History

Hilligonde Wolbring founded the Sisters of Notre Dame of Coesfeld, Germany in 1850. Hilligonde lovingly embraced all of her students, but especially those who were poor or disadvantaged. She and her companion teacher, Elisabeth Kühling, experienced God’s goodness and provident care, and were impelled to pass it on to others. Gradually the young women discerned that their attraction to service was a call to religious life. Under the guidance of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Amersfoort in the Netherlands, they established a new religious family based on the spiritual heritage of St. Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The Sisters of Notre Dame, an international congregation of women religious, now serve the Church in educational, pastoral and social ministries in 17 countries on five continents.