Catholic
Tradition
At Notre Dame, we develop spirituallygrounded young women. Guided by the wisdom of Saint Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we have provided a relevant and challenging Catholic education for more than 168 years. Through our program, students at Notre Dame develop a strong spiritual core and sense of self as well as their individual perspective on social issues. Under the direction of the religious studies and ministry faculty, students engage in their journey through theological inquiry and spiritual practice. More than 100 student leaders help plan and implement Catholic liturgies as well as opportunities for meditation, reflection and prayer for students of all faiths. All students take religious studies courses, participate in spiritual retreats and serve at local agencies in the community. Last year, 77% of students exceeded their community service-learning requirement. As young women of service and impact, they are spiritual seekers and justice advocates who take their place as community leaders.
in the state of California for
3
consecutive years
STUDENTS SERVED:
17,653
HOURS
Top 10
Catholic High School
of community service with
90
local agencies
120
Notre Dame is
ONE OF
SCHOOLS IN A GLOBAL NETWORK SPONSORED ACROSS
5 continents by the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
56
LAST YEAR
8
student retreats
LED BY
70 32
loaves of communion bread
student leaders faculty members
125
baked by campus ministry student leaders
+ leadership positions
available through campus ministry
100
%
of students participate in campus ministry programs and religious studies classes
"Be like the sunflower which follows all the movements of the sun and ever turns towards it."
St. Julie
"This past year, I made my confirmation through Notre Dame, which was an amazing experience. Not only was I able to look at God and my spirituality through different viewpoints introduced to me by the Notre Dame community, but I was also able to enjoy learning and talking about God with my close friends."
Amelie'20
National Coastal Plunges Increase environmental justice awareness and rebuild communities — recent locations include the central coast and New Orleans
Urban Plunges Combine social justice and urbanism — recent locations have included Silicon Valley, East LA and the San Francisco Tenderloin
Advocacy Opportunities Apply classroom learning to real-life challenges — recent trips include the Ignatian Family Teachin and visits to the state capitol and Berkeley
Global Citizenship Travel Combines cultural and language immersion for deeper understanding — recent trips include El Salvador, Tanzania and Nicaragua
Notre Dame Network Cultivates relationships with other Notre Dame communities — recent trips include Boston and Notre Dame Seishin in Japan
Service Learning Trips Provide student opportunities for global impact — recent locations include Mexico, Armenia and India
"Religion classes place a strong emphasis on social justice that pertains to every ND student regardless of religious affiliation. In junior year, students are required to take Peace & Social Justice. In this course, we tackle issues that include the death penalty, women's rights, racial discrimination and how to preserve the environment. By looking at these topics through both a religious and pragmatic lens, we, as students, gain a holistic view of complex issues and begin to foster solutions to them."
Arushi '20
Seven Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community 1
We proclaim by our lives even more than by our words that God is good.
2
We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person.
3
We educate for and act on behalf of justice and peace in the world.
4
We commit ourselves to community service.
5
We embrace the gift of diversity.
6
We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve.
Guided by all seven Hallmarks, Notre Dame chooses one to focus on each year. For 2019-20 Notre Dame will focus on Hallmark #7:
7
We develop holistic learning communities which educate for life.
"Notre Dame is a school that focuses on justice and service, both of which relate back to Catholic social teachings."
Kimia '21
"At the liturgies, students have so many opportunities to participate, whether it be by singing in the choir or serving as liturgical ministers. We often also incorporate themes into the liturgy, such as social justice issues or how to have more confidence. These make each one unique and memorable. Though I am not particularly religious, I feel like my spirituality has deepened as a result of these experiences."
Kate '20