Sr. Mary Ann Rossi lives in Norwalk, CT and has a long history with Associates in Rhode Island and presently with Associates in Stamford, CT. In her reflection, she emphasizes the central scriptural teaching of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal.

The Ten Commandments? Jesus’s anger in the Temple? OH NO! I was hoping for nice passages the comforting kind of readings that seems to lead me into prayer, not these! Then I remembered a faith-sharing experience with CND’s when I lived in Providence. A Sister reminded us that as Marguerite’s people we were surrounded by a reminder to live the GREAT Commandment to love God and to love one another. How blessed we were, she said, not only to be able to read the words of Scripture, but also to find the words in the Writings of Marguerite, AND to have them PUT TO MUSIC! but also to be able to SING them, well at least to listen to them put to music. (Visualize the cover of Sr. Kathleen Deignan’s album, AVE: SONGS OF THE Congregation of Notre Dame. It’s the fourth song!! “All that I have ever desired...”).

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A few days before Christmas of 1964 four young Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame set foot for the first time in Guatemala. They were eager to begin to live and work among the Mayan People in the highlands of this land of Eternal Spring. The relationship that began that day between the indigenous people and the four women and the CND Sisters who came after them would be a life changing one for both parties. 

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In the past two months, I have enjoyed learning about the Congregation of Notre Dame charism and ministries. To further the work of this office I have:

• Identified our major donors and learned about their Congregation of Notre Dame connection
• Identified our most loyal donors, of whom we have many (these individuals are the top prospects for our monthly giving society, Visitation Companions, as well as for planned gifts)
• Created a weekly schedule of thank you calls to donors
• Familiarized myself with the database
• Created a new design for our newsletter and submitted to the printer on schedule; mailing date is March 26
• Inaugurated a special report from the Provincial to accompany the newsletters of our major donors, Legacy Society members, Advisory Committee members, and Visitation Companions
• Written a new letter to Visitation Companions to accompany their Lenten booklets
• Begun writing a general case for support and table of needs that will inform our appeal letters and newsletters going forward
• Begun gathering information for our spring appeal
• Set up a weekly Facebook posting schedule

If you have ideas for what we can do to enhance our rapport with our donors and supporters, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.