Notre Dame Prep Principals Deepen Connection to SSND Mission

Notre Dame Preparatory School’s commitment to the charism of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) is being strengthened this year as two of our school leaders, Dr. Victor Pellechia, Upper Level Principal, and Mrs. Jo Marie Tolj, Middle Level Principal, are set to become official SSND Associates.

This summer, Dr. Pellechia attended the "Claiming the Fire Within" retreat in Malvern, PA, a spiritual retreat for lay leaders from SSND-sponsored schools and organizations. Leaders gathered to explore the SSND charism and understand how to apply the SSND mission to contemporary cultural issues and the needs of the time. In a reflection on his experience, Dr. Pellechia shared that the retreat was a blessing to see the working of the Holy Spirit through the different stories that were shared. He noted that the retreat embodied a core principle of the SSND charism: Unity.

"As we learned about our spiritual roots in the life of St. Augustine, the visionary leadership of Blessed Theresa, the pioneering tenacity of Mother Caroline, and the path forward...it was clear that we were all part of a tremendous story of faith and promise," Dr. Pellechia wrote. He described feeling revitalized and recharged, ready to bring this energy back to our various corners of the SSND mission.

Both Dr. Pellechia and Mrs. Tolj will be officially welcomed as SSND Associates in a ceremony this October, a further testament to their dedication to the SSND mission of transforming the world through education.