Chardon Ohio Part of CCCs Rich Legacy 1 Some Questions to Ask Who is the woman in the Performing Arts courtyard Why is she so happy What do the wordsHow good is the good God mean ID: 694992
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Charism and History
The Sisters of Notre DameChardon, OhioPart of CCC’s Rich Legacy
1Slide2
Some Questions to Ask:
Who is the woman in the Performing Arts courtyard ?
Why is she so happy?
What do the
words,“How
good is the good God” mean?At CCC, why do our prayers end with “St. Julie Billiart, pray for us”?How are Friendship and Faith the underlying themes of SND and CCC?
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CCC has an INTERNATIONAL Heritage
Coesfeld
Germany
(Prussia)
Namur
Belgium
Amersfoort
Netherlands
3Slide4The Sisters of Notre Dame
Evolved through the devotion of two female friends in providing a
FOUNDRESS of the orderEvolved through the devotion of two female friends in providing the SPIRITUAL MOTHER of the order
Bottom Line: Through God’s PROVIDENTIAL CARE and DEVOTED FRIENDSHIP, the Sisters of Notre Dame came to be and grew to influence CCC.
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How the Sisters of Notre Dame came to be…
Hilligonde Wolbring was born Jan. 9, 1828 in Rotterdam, Holland
She was orphaned by age 7
She was taken in by relatives in Westphalia, Germany where she received an excellent education in the tradition of
Father Bernard Overberg which stressed: 1. Challenging studies 2. Spiritual developmentHOW DO
YOU
SEE THESE AT CCC?
5Slide6Father Bernard Overberg
Educated TEACHERS in methods far ahead of his time!!
1754–1826
6Slide7Father Bernard Overberg
“Teacher of Teachers.”
TRUE EDUCATION:
development of gifts that the loving Creator had given
understanding
the world and living responsibly in ita genuine centeredness in and union with our
loving and provident
God
teachers must see children as being very precious to God
forming children’s minds and hearts is a
sacred
callingchildren should be excited about learning and actively involved in their own learning teachers’ primary responsibility was to develop love in the children as the seed of happiness 7Slide8Teachers
How have teachers…
Developed your sense of academic curiosity so far at CCC?Helped you to GROW in Faith so far at CCC?Contributed to your overall happiness so far at CCC?
Mrs. Newton
Mr.
Kledzik
Mr. Roberson
Mr.
Konrad
Mr.
Hammacher
Mr. Stewart
Mrs.
Pollinger
Mrs.
Ceraolo
Mrs. Kling
Mrs.
Winer
Mrs. Kiernan
Mrs.
Robey
Mr. Garcia
8Slide9Still a teenager,
Hilligonde’s enthusiasm was “toned down” by others
So inspired by Overberg’s vision of education, she wanted to teach poor children in foreign lands.Her uncle, Mr. Huesner, told her she should tend to the poor in Germany near her home.
9Slide10Still a teenager, Hilligonde’s enthusiasm was “toned down” by others
Hilligonde then wanted to open an orphanage in Berlin for unwanted poor children.
Once again, she was told “NO”
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What do we do when others say NO to our enthusiastic IDEAS?
Think of those times when your parents, teachers or friends “reel you in” and squashed your excitement.What are some the feelings you had?Has it ever caused you to want to give up?
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Well… Hilligonde didn’t give up!
At age 17, she dedicated herself to being the best teacher she could be.
She passed the teaching exam
cum laude
(she was a very smart girl!)
But she still wanted to build a home for those children she saw who were unwanted and in need not only of education but LOVE.12Slide13What she got was…
A Friend!Elisabeth Kuhling was also a fantastic teacher
She listened to Hilligonde’s dream to create a home for abandoned kids and said…Let’s Get ‘er Done!Together, these two dedicated women pitched their idea to the local priest.
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Vocations
Father Theodore
Elting
supported the young women’s plan to establish a shelter for “at risk” kids.
He also helped them to see that they
both had the calling to become nuns.He brought some Sisters of Notre Dame of Amersfoort, Holland to prepare Elisabeth and Hilligonde to become Sisters of Notre Dame in Coesfeld, Prussia.
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Vocations
At this stage of your life, what vocation seems to
be attracting you?
Will you live out God’s plan
As a religious sister or brother?
As a wife and mother or husband and father?
As an ordained priest or deacon?
As a single person?
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They dedicated themselves to God Oct. 1, 1850
Hilligonde became Sister Maria Aloysia (right)
And Elisabeth became Sister Maria Ignatia
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Together, they established the Sisters of Notre Dame of Coesfeld, Prussia (Germany)Their primary purpose was to educate and share God’s providential care
with the poor and marginalized children of Germany.They also adopted the spirituality of another “fiery” woman, Julie Billiart, who we’ll meet later on.17Slide18
The core belief of the Sisters of ND and the faculty/staff at CCC
is that we all are in the Providential Care of a loving
God.
Providential means in simpler terms that our God
gives us what we need
to be happy.Those gifts He gives are meant to be shared.Think of one gift that God has given you and how you share that unique talent with others.18Slide19Great Challenges…
The Coesfeld Sisters of Notre Dame grew to more than 200 women by 1869! Over 7,000
children (often underprivileged) were being educated.Sister Maria Ignatia (Elisabeth) died of cancer at the age of 47 on November 8, 1869. Hilligonde’s friend and support was taken from her.
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S. Maria IgnatiaSlide20Think of a time when you lost an important friendship… (not through death as Hilligonde did) … maybe a move, maybe due to an argument or just through growing apart.
What do you feel when you lose a friend? How does it affect all the aspects of your life?
20Slide21Great Challenges
Prussia outlawed Catholic education and religious orders in the early 1870’s
Religious oppression led the Sisters to flee to Cleveland, Ohio to work with the poor, sick and immigrants.Hilligonde (Sister Maria Aloysia) “wore so many hats” in Ohio…..21Slide22Sister Maria Aloysia
Cared for those who could not care for themselves:
She attended to the ElderlyShe provided Love and a Home for neglected or abandoned childrenShe ran a farm to sell produceShe fostered vocations in other young womenAnd most of all she PRAYED!
She
died peacefully in Ohio at
61.
Portrait of Hilligonde, Chardon Ohio
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So… Two courageous friends built the legacy of the Sisters of Notre DameThese sisters had a presence at CCC until 2009
The Faculty and Staff of CCC
keep
alive their belief in God’s providential care, service to the poor and quality education to build strong leaders
Portrait of Hilligonde & Elisabeth, Chardon, Ohio
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So…where does Julie Billiart fit into all of this ?????
Another amazing story of FRIENDSHIP!!!
24Slide25Julie
The “Smiling Saint” is at the heart of the Sisters of Notre Dame AND CCC!
25Slide26Trauma and Miracles
Born in France, she had a rough childhood as she watched her siblings die in poverty
Helped to care for a crippled brother and blind sisterHardworking dad who could not make ends meet and who dealt with numerous robberiesWhat difficult childhood experiences (if any) have you had to face? How have you dealt with them?
26Slide27Trauma and Miracles
Even as a little child, Julie firmly believed
“How Good is the Good God”!!!!Throughout her youth, she shared the gospel through words and loving actions for those even poorer than her.At 23, bullets riddled her father’s shop where she was helping. The combination of that traumatic event and infection rendered her paralyzed for
22 years.
27Slide28Trauma and Miracles
From the bed which became her physical prison, the “smiling saint” continued to house the poor and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ amidst the chaos of the
French Revolution!Many of her dear friends who were Carmelite Sisters were guillotined
Though paralyzed physically, she continued to tend to the needs of the poor and those spiritually oppressed by Napoleon
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Friendship once again brings strength
Francoise Blin de BourdonShe was born of nobility but opposed Napoleonic oppression. She barely escaped execution herself!
Fran shared Julie’s dreams of educating and protecting the poor. She gave up wealth to serve the poor!
29Slide30Another Dynamic Duo
Julie and Fran dedicated their lives as Sisters in 1804.
“We exist only for the poor, only for the poor, absolutely only for the poor”Often carried on a chair, Julie taught, ministered and with Fran, founded the Sisters of Notre Dame of Namur.
Fran
Julie
30Slide31Now for the miracle….
At age 53, after 22 years of paralysis, Julie was miraculously cured of the paralysis while praying to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
With her physical strength regained, NOTHING COULD STOP THIS “FIERY” NUN!She and Fran and other educators got the new religious community knowledgeable, strong and ready to change the world!31Slide32Julie parallels St. Paul
She was a missionary who traveled to so many different diocese (on horseback). Tirelessly instructing her Sisters, ministering to the poor, writing letters of encouragement to her growing communities!
The image of a female St. Paul in a habit!
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As Julie traveled, her heart broke to see the devastation due to the political warsHer heart ached more at the lack of Faith she saw
What ways do you try to share your faith with those who deny it?
33Slide34Her final burdens
Julie was called “The walking Love of God”
She educated and taught of Jesus’ love to thousands of children amidst the chaos of the Napoleonic wars Harsh life and criticism from her superiors caused Julie great anguish. It was as if she had too many
good
things to do in just one lifetime.
Her religious community survived and has continued to grow
internationally.34Slide35
Her final endeavor was to commission her Sisters to form schools where GIRLS (especially the poor) would be educated.
What a progressive vision for 1816 when women were powerless!Throughout all of her trials and challenges, Julie never waivered from her belief:“
Qu’il
est
bon, le bon Dieu”: How good is the good God.
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Julie Billiart died at 64 while she was praying the Magnificat. Her final words were “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior”She was canonized a Saint in 1969.She is the spiritual Mother of the Sisters of Notre Dame.
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So What do we take from these stories of two humble women?
God’s providential care: God gave Hilligonde and Julie just what they needed to do His will: guts, determination, vision and grace.
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So What do we take from these stories of two humble women?
A supportive friend gives us strength: God gave Elisabeth to Hilligonde and He gave Fran to Julie. Four friends, separated by time and geography, against all odds, created the Sisters of Notre Dame whose influence and charism we feel here at
CCC
.
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So What do we take from these stories of two humble women?
3. “How good is the good God”: He kindles in us the flames of love and compassion for others. As teachers and students at CCC, it is our job to fan those flames in service to others.
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As a final reflection…
Identify one person who needs your friendship. Write how you will show support to them like Elisabeth and Fran. What do they need from you?
Identify one GOOD thing that has happened to you since coming to CCC. Write about that experience and how such goodness makes you feel.
Identify one goal for yourself for your freshman year. Write specifically what it is (it could be academic, social or athletic) and how you plan to attain that goal.
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