Thank you Saint Kateri for your witness

By S. Rita Ostry, ND

St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656, in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her mother was an Algonquin, who was captured by the Mohawks and who took a…

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My Father, gracious Dad and best friend – A Father’s Day Story

John and Elizabeth Rolf, parents of Sr. Dorothy Rolf, ND
John and Elizabeth Rolf, parents of Sr. Dorothy Rolf, ND

By Sr. Dorothy Rolf, ND

My father, John Rolf, was born and raised on a farm near West Point Nebraska. I experience my Dad as a very gentle, patient, and trustworthy man with a great trust…

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A patient man who loved his daughters – A Rolenc Father’s Day Story

Joseph Rolenc, the father of Sisters Karen and Anita, was prayerful, generous, and patient. We realized Dad prayed the rosary often when, at the time of his death, the rosary was in the pocket of the trousers he was wearing. The crucifix on the rosary had the Body…

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25 years of Notre Dame Housing – a reflection from Sr. Joy Connealy

25 years of Notre Dame Housing
1996 Ribbon Cutting for Notre Dame Housing

2022 marks the 25th anniversary of Notre Dame Housing. We look forward to sharing many reflections and memories of this incredible ministry, founded and now sponsored by the Notre Dame Sisters.

My farm background gives me an appreciation for…

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A Prayer to Unknot Your Soul

I learned about the prayer to Mary, the Undoer of Knots, during one of my visits to Europe. I have a ribbon into which I have tied knots representing those situations that give me anxiety and fear. And I recite this prayer:

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us….

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Learn more about the Catholic Climate Covenant

Catholic Climate Covenant

Throughout the year we Notre Dame Sisters will be posting tips for ecological and climate change on our Facebook page. Below is some history as to how this became a priority to Catholic religious and caring people everywhere.

In 2006, to address growing ecological awareness and the need to…

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An Encounter with Honesty and Love – from Sr. Joy Connealy

As a young sister I was working with a team to develop young adult ministry in our diocese. We had to find out what young adults saw as their needs and so we did interviews with a variety of young people.

I had conducted several interviews and the concerns…

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A Mother’s Day Story from Sr. Josita Hanus, ND

When I think of my parents I have deep feelings of gratitude. 88 years ago, on February 6th Leo Hanus & Kristine Polak began a life together of shared love. Their attendants were: Mary Hanus Steager and Lad Polak and little Pauline Rolenc Voboril. Theirs was a full…

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A Mother’s Day Story About a “Can-Do” Attitude

What I most admired about my Mom, nicknamed Stella, was her “can-do” attitude. She always said, “You can do anything you set your mind to do.” And that attitude shot through every part of her life. Mom was born in 1906. At the age of 8 years, she…

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A Mother’s Day Story of Teaching Teamwork by Example

Sr. Marie Alice’s and my mother was Marie Ostry. She was born and raised in Dwight, Nebraska, and she and my father moved to a farm near Surprise Nebraska, where we five children were raised.

Our mother taught us many good values of responsibility, perseverance, working together, sharing life…

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