Born in Gonzales, Calif., Bernice and her five sisters all attended Sacred Heart School in Salinas. Her parents then enrolled her as a boarder in Moreland Notre Dame High School in Watsonville. She came home on weekends, and in her sophomore year started working as a stock girl on Saturdays at ‘The Elegant Dress Shop’.
Heart and soul — an artist! Sister Margaret designed the beautiful, very real-looking Madonna and Child on the bell tower of Cunningham Memorial Chapel at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, and she collaborated with artist Gabriel Loire, in designing the sculptured-glass chapel windows. To remember Sister Margaret Hoffman is to see her as
A generous, multi-talented person, Sister Ann Bernadette was a lifetime believer in the power of education and the importance of making this world more just, especially for those with the greatest needs. She was known for her commitment to the Blessed Mother and her insistence on the equality of women’s voices in the Church and
Even at 101 years of age, Sister Helen was always young at heart, known for her sense of humor, quick wit and phenomenal memory. She loved all the children she ever taught and even remembered birthdays of those she taught many years ago. She didn’t just promise to pray for people; she did it, caring
Born on December 29, 1926 and raised in Hollister, Barbara was a 5th generation Californian, descended from the Bernal Family who was part of the 1776 DeAnza Expedition. From her earliest years, she loved to dance; even in her recent years at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland, she often used her cane to
Sister Julie lived a very full life – for nearly 103 years! Born Phyllis Bellefeuille, on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota, she was always proud of her Chippewa heritage. She was close to her loving family of six boys and four girls, and grateful for her large international Notre Dame de Namur family,
By Kay McMullen, SNDdeN (1939 – 2018) O Holy, Holy One, how majestic are your names in all the earth! When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are we, scruffy humans, that you are mindful of us, such bungling, difficult creatures,
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from the US East-West Province served at the US-Mexico border in various temporary capacities from early 2019 until March of 2020. Summer 2020 Update In Texas, through early 2020, Sisters were walking across the border in Texas to bring food, supplies and support to migrants living in a makeshift
Our Sisters offer summer reading suggestions, as they did in 2018. The following are just three of the many books recommended in the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur's Seasons publication. To view or download the full issue, click here: Summer 2019 Seasons An Ode to Nature Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is
A joyous gathering on Sunday, June 9, in Belmont, CA, allowed Sisters, family and friends to celebrate the Sisters who are marking 75, 70, and 60 years as Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The photo gallery below offers glimpses of the mass and reception for many of these Sisters (some, sadly, were unable to
