"On Oct. 18, 1918, the ban was placed on all churches and schools to avoid the spread of this treacherous disease....on Nov. 1, the ban was removed from churches and on Nov. 11, from the schools. Now the busy time started for us (teachers) and yet only for four weeks when the ban was replaced again, certainly to the deepest grief of teachers and pupils."

"We Sisters were the privileged ones that were able to assist at Mass daily...of course we had to enter the church through the basement door and to keep the doors locked. More than once we were reminded of the first Christians in the catacombs."

"On Oct. 11 we were notified that the schools would have to be closed on account of the epidemic. Lessons were assigned so as not to lose too much time but no one thought that it would be four weeks vacation." 

"The survivors of the (school) staff were making heroic efforts to do double duty in continuing classes. The one thing each was determined to avoid was to join the Flu-ites, yet every recess or noon, one or the other would be forced...to have her temperature taken and when told to go to bed, would protest with such vehemence that there was a still greater rise in temperature. Meals for the sick were taken to the fifth floor in large utensils, and dished out there. To wash and keep flu dishes separate was a task that taxed the patience of more than the patients." 

"Mt. St. Mary's Institute (orphanage) in Cleveland reported that 88 children were in bed, temperatures rose to 104-106°."

"(During the illness of Sr. Ladisa), which took quite a while, our assistant (pastor) was so kind as to offer himself to help in the school thinking perhaps that it was the easiest occupation a person could look for.  But, after two days, he gave it up as a bad job..."

Indeed, we can be certain that the SNDs who have gone before us are carrying us in prayer as we experience much that they did, more than 100 years ago.

Heidi Vass, La Reina's music teacher, was featured in national news recently!   Her creativity and appreciation for music as prayer is inspiring: "liturgical singing is about coming together as a community."   Follow this link for the most recent La Reina Community Psalm Sing.   

Congratulations to students from Notre Dame Academy Elementary who earned 15 s tatewide Honorable Mention awards in the California Streaming Photography Contest.    Catch the art show here. 

Sr. Nicole Varnerin is working with her Cleveland Central Catholic students (virtually) to create face shields for medical workers at Cleveland Clinic.

With hope that she is now enjoying eternal rest and with gratitude for her life of consecration, we announce the passing of our dear Sr. Mary Therese Kirstein. Sr. Therese was looking forward to her 70th Jubilee this summer and will now be celebrating from heaven.

After many years as an educator in Ohio and California, Sr. Mary Therese courageously accepted the challenges of age.  She was hospitalized in early April and peacefully slipped into eternity on April 7. The visitor restrictions at Los Robles Hospital hospital prevented any SNDs  from being with her.  It was a special gift, though, that Kelly Lanquist Reilly, a La Reina graduate and nurse at Los Robles, was with her in her final moments.

Because her brother died during World War II, Sr. Mary Therese was particularly devoted to those serving in the military and veterans.  We can be confident that she is interceding for them and for all of us before our good and provident God.

Features include an introduction to Sr. Laura Marie Kane, a vocations team update, a report on the 2020 Nun Run, news about the pump water system for Buseesa, Uganda, and a unique story about "Celebrating Rosa Mystica."   We also acknowledge our hundreds of 2019 donors in this edition.  Thank you again for your generosity!  

Our dear friends at Mile 26 Sports (who help us execute the Nun Run every year) are hosting a virtual 5K called the Run Solo Project to encourage all of us to stay active during the Coronavirus stay-at-home orders. When you join our Nun Run/Sisters of Notre Dame team, we earn $20 to keep up our good work in the community during this difficult time. Support this local business and the Sisters of Notre Dame while taking care of yourself!  Follow this link to get involved and get ready for the 2021 Nun Run--and thank you!