Congregation of Notre-Dame de Sion
Encyclopedia
The Congregation of Notre-Dame de Sion (Congregation of Our Lady of Zion) is a Roman Catholic religious order of women founded in France in 1843 by Theodor Ratisbonne
, encouraged by his brother Alphonse Ratisbonne, with the purpose of promoting the conversion of Jews to Christianity. The congregation established several educational institutions in the Holy Land
, a convent and an orphanage. A mother-house was established in Paris. In 1852 the Ratisbonne brothers established the Congregation of the Priests of Notre-Dame de Sion. A number of other institutions were established around the world, including Our Lady of Sion School
in England, and the Our Lady of Sion College
in Australia.
For many years most of the sisters were teachers in Sion schools. Since the Second Vatican Council
the work of the sisters has expanded and developed. Now there is a wide variety of ministries. The congregation now has sisters in 22 countries world wide.
The sisterhood no longer emphasises conversion, but instead describes itself as working to improve Catholic-Jewish relations to witness to God's faithful love for the Jewish people.
One of its best-known members was Sœur Emmanuelle
, (1908-2008), who worked in Istanbul and Cairo.
Maria Theodor Ratisbonne
Maria Theodor Ratisbonne was a Catholic priest and missionary who founded the Order of Our Lady of Sion. He was the brother of Maria Alphonse Ratisbonne.-Biography:...
, encouraged by his brother Alphonse Ratisbonne, with the purpose of promoting the conversion of Jews to Christianity. The congregation established several educational institutions in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, a convent and an orphanage. A mother-house was established in Paris. In 1852 the Ratisbonne brothers established the Congregation of the Priests of Notre-Dame de Sion. A number of other institutions were established around the world, including Our Lady of Sion School
Our Lady of Sion School
Our Lady of Sion School, commonly known as Sion School or just Sion, is a privately-funded and independent school for male and female students, founded in Worthing, West Sussex, England in 1862 by the Sisters of Sion....
in England, and the Our Lady of Sion College
Our Lady of Sion College
Our Lady of Sion College is a Catholic school for girls located in Box Hill, Melbourne, Australia.The college educates around 750 girls from year 7 to VCE...
in Australia.
For many years most of the sisters were teachers in Sion schools. Since the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
the work of the sisters has expanded and developed. Now there is a wide variety of ministries. The congregation now has sisters in 22 countries world wide.
The sisterhood no longer emphasises conversion, but instead describes itself as working to improve Catholic-Jewish relations to witness to God's faithful love for the Jewish people.
One of its best-known members was Sœur Emmanuelle
Sœur Emmanuelle
Sœur Emmanuelle , born Madeleine Cinquin, was a Belgian and French nun .-Life:...
, (1908-2008), who worked in Istanbul and Cairo.
External links
- Notre Dames de Sion website (multilingual)
- Notre Dame de Sion in Ein Kerem (the convent of Saint John in Montana), Israel (multilingual)
- Sisters of Sion - United Kingdom/Ireland Province
- A private bilingual school located in Montreal, Canada founded by Sisters of Sion
- a private school in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, founded by Sisters of SionNotre Dame de SionNotre Dame de Sion School of Kansas City was founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City, Missouri in 1912 as a Catholic school, albeit one which accepts and welcomes students of other faiths as well. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint...