Congregation of Notre Dame

About Us

The Congrégation de Notre-Dame is a Catholic community of women religious of apostolic faith founded by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys in Ville-Marie (Montreal) in 1659.

Mission

Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame work at the service of the Church and society in several domains including faith education, social justice and ecology.

To follow Jesus, in a preferential option for the poor, and to live our mission of liberating education in fidelity to the prophetic charism of Marguerite Bourgeoys in today’s world, we commit ourselves to live simply and closer to the reality of the impoverished, the excluded and the oppressed.

In solidarity with them, we commit ourselves to protect our planet and to participate actively in the transformation of Church and society for a more just world.

Together, we risk to hope, 2011-2016, Booklet of the 2011 General Chapter orientations of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, p. 8.

Spirituality

In the footsteps of Mary and Marguerite…

Marguerite Bourgeoys felt called to live as Mary lived on earth. She was particularly inspired by two events: the Visitation (Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth) and the presence of Mary in the midst of the Christian community at Pentecost. (Lk 1:39-56; Ac 1:12-14 & 2:1-4) Nourished by the spirituality of Visitation and of Pentecost, the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame commit themselves, in imitation of their Foundress, to walk in the footsteps of Mary. The values of hospitality and of listening are at the heart of their prayer life.

The Blessed Virgin (…) never excused herself from any journey
on which there was good to be done or some work of charity to be performed.

The Writings of Marguerite Bourgeoys, p. 50