The sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame (Congregation of Our Lady) have a great devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Our foundress, Marguerite Bourgeoys had Mary as a role model. Mary and Marguerite are very prominent in every building connected with the Congregation. You have the beautiful statue of Mary at the entrance to the school and you have many other reminders throughout the building.

As a teenager, Marguerite was deeply moved and changed when she looked at a statue of Mary and saw her in a new light. She felt encompassed by God’s love and by Mary’s smile. I am sure you have found yourself moved by an experience such as looking at a beautiful scene such as a sunrise or a sunset. I was certainly moved when I visited here last year and experienced the glorious views of the cherry blossoms everywhere.

When Marguerite was contemplating whether she should make that difficult journey across the Ocean she experienced a vision of Mary saying, “Go I will never abandon you.” As sisters of the Congregation, we take that message to heart and we know that we have Mary as a source of support for us. You also can turn to Mary for support.

Marguerite was also inspired by Mary’s Visitation. When Mary was pregnant with Jesus and she heard that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, Mary went quickly to visit her cousin who was elderly. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, it was Mary who stayed with the disciples to help and support them. Marguerite wanted to imitate Mary who lived a life of going out to others. That is why she founded a Congregation that was not cloistered but the members were able to reach out and to respond to the different needs in many places.

These were some of the qualities of Mary, which Marguerite imitated and wanted for her followers: The spirit of visitation always involves an encounter with another. This is a value that the sisters have lived and shared through the years. Your instructors, in partnership and collaboration with the sisters have personalized this value and are passing it on to you. Each one of us can dream of a world where people live in love and service and each one of us can make the effort to bring about that reality.