Notre Dame, Congregation of
Notre Dame, Congregation of
is the name of a Roman Catholic female order, whose members are frequently called "Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady." The origin of the sisterhood is doubtful. Some ascribe its foundation to Fourier, others to Aix le Clerc, the first devotee of this Congregation. She flourished in the second half of the 16th century in a little village in Lorraine, that part of France recently annexed to Germany. The establishments of the Congregation were first opened in the beginning of the 17th century. In 1614 a convention was held of the different members, and a confirmation of the order asked for from the papal see, and the request was granted by a special bull from pope Paul V, February, 1615; further enlarged in privileges, March, 1617. A change in the rules and constitution was made in 1645, and received the approval of pope Innocent X. The Congregations of Our Lady have flourished ever since in Europe, and especially in Belgium and France. In America they have their head-quarters in Montreal, where they number 431 professed sisters, 80 novices and postulants, and 13.337 pupils in the boarding-schools, academies, and free schools; which they direct principally in Canada and British America. The only establishments in the United States known to be connected with that at Montreal are the "Convent and Academy of the Ladies of the Congregation of Notre Dame," at Portland, Me., which reports 14 members and 90 pupils, also 840 pupils in two parochial schools, of which the ladies have charge; and St. Joseph's Convent, at Cambridgeport, Mass., with 7 sisters, who have charge of schools with 375 pupils. Other establishments, however, as those at Waterbury, Conn., and Bourbonnais Grove, Ill., may also belong to this Congregation. The Catholica Almanac, under January 12, says: "Margaret Bourgeoys, founder of the Sisters of the Congregation, died at Montreal, 1706." There are, however, in the United States many others who are styled in the Catholic Directory of 1871 "Sisters of Notre Dame," or "School-Sisters of Notre Dame," or "Poor School-Sisters of Notre Dame," possibly all belonging with those who are thus reported from Milwaukee: "Convent of the School-Sisters of Notre Dame, Mother House and Novitiate, corner of Milwaukee and Knapp Streets, Sister Mary Caroline, superioress. Members, 65; novices, 88; postulants, 80; mission-houses, 78; with 620 sisters, having under their charge, throughout the United States, 27,900 parish school-children, over 1375 orphans, 640 boarders." The establishments named in the Catholic Directory for 1871 as belonging to the "School-Sisters of Notre Dame" are in Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Philadelphia, Tacony, and Alleghany City, Pa.; Chicago, Ill.; Milwaukee and Elm Grove, and twelve other places, Wisconsin. To these the Directory for 1870 added Rochester, N. Y., and Pittsburgh, Pa. The "Poor School-Sisters of Notre Dame" are reported only at Quincy and Belleville, in the diocese of Alton; while the "Sisters of Notre Dame" are reported in that diocese at Quincy, Belleville, Highland, St. Liborius, Shoal Creek Station, Springfield, and Teutopolis, Ill. The "Sisters of Notre Dame," or the "Sisters of the Congregation," are reported at Boston (including East and South Boston and Boston Highlands), Lowell, Salem, Lawrence, Chicopee, and Holyoke, Mass.; Waterbury, Conn.; New York City, Rochester, and Buffalo, N. Y.; Newark, N. J.; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pa.; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; Louisville, Ky.; Detroit. Mich.; Green Bay, Wis.; Mankato and Hokah, Min.; West Point, Iowa; Chicago, Henry, and Bourbonnais Grove, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; New Orleans, La.; San Francisco, Pueblo of San Jose, and Marysville, Cal. See Histoire du Clerqe Seculieri et Regulier, 3:384- 395; Barnum, Romanism as it is, p. 327, 328.
