Congregation of Notre Dame
Encyclopedia
The Congregation of Notre Dame was founded in 1653 by Marguerite Bourgeoys
in Montreal
, Canada
. This was one of the first non-cloistered communities. The community's motherhouse has continued to be based in Montreal. Members of the community live in Canada, United States, Japan
, and several developing nations, for a total of nine countries on four continents.
In 1668 Bourgeoys purchased Maison Saint-Gabriel
in Montreal, a farm property which the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame operated for nearly 300 years. It was temporary home for some of the King's Wards, also called the King's Daughters, or Filles du Roi. On the property, sisters produced food and products to support the Congregation of Notre Dame, new settlers and others in need. Today the property has been developed as a living museum of farming and historic times. The property, outbuildings and grounds have been restored.
The community is centered on the mystery
of the Visitation: the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary's visiting Elizabeth
. The sisters of the community are engaged in active social justice
, emulating their founder's admonition of "little, simple and poor". Members of the congregation do not wear a habit
, a traditional type of dress; rather, they dress in simple contemporary clothes.
The religious community has long had a strong commitment to education, from establishing schools in New France to teaching students and teachers in developing countries. In many countries, such as Cameroon
, they take an active role in teaching classes. They also train indigenous
teachers.
Marguerite Bourgeoys
Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys was the founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame.- Biography :...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. This was one of the first non-cloistered communities. The community's motherhouse has continued to be based in Montreal. Members of the community live in Canada, United States, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and several developing nations, for a total of nine countries on four continents.
In 1668 Bourgeoys purchased Maison Saint-Gabriel
Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum
The Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum located in Montreal, Quebec is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage and artifact of the settlers of New France in the mid 17th century...
in Montreal, a farm property which the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame operated for nearly 300 years. It was temporary home for some of the King's Wards, also called the King's Daughters, or Filles du Roi. On the property, sisters produced food and products to support the Congregation of Notre Dame, new settlers and others in need. Today the property has been developed as a living museum of farming and historic times. The property, outbuildings and grounds have been restored.
The community is centered on the mystery
Sacred Mysteries
The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of supernatural phenomena associated with a divinity or a religious ideology.-Pre-Christian religious mysteries:...
of the Visitation: the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary's visiting Elizabeth
Elizabeth (Biblical person)
Elizabeth is also spelled Elisabeth or Elisheva...
. The sisters of the community are engaged in active social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, emulating their founder's admonition of "little, simple and poor". Members of the congregation do not wear a habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
, a traditional type of dress; rather, they dress in simple contemporary clothes.
The religious community has long had a strong commitment to education, from establishing schools in New France to teaching students and teachers in developing countries. In many countries, such as Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, they take an active role in teaching classes. They also train indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
teachers.
External links
- Congregation of Notre Dame - Official website
- Schola Ministries - A CND Ministry