A Transformative Act of Faith: SSND Invests $1M in Common Ground Campaign
Trust and Dare—the words that inspired Blessed Mother Theresa of Gerhardinger, foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, continue to guide the Notre Dame Preparatory School community as it moves forward with a bold vision for the future—one that ensures students receive a dynamic, relevant, and faith-filled education.
In a profound and generous affirmation of confidence in Notre Dame Prep’s vitality and future direction, the School Sisters of Notre Dame have made a transformative million-dollar gift to support the Common Ground: Building NDP’s Future campaign. This extraordinary act of faith reflects their enduring belief in the mission of NDP and the young women it serves.
The SSND gift is being designated to the Huffman Commons, a student space bound to be the hub of campus life where relationships are formed and strengthened, where laughter and learning naturally intertwine, and where students feel a deep sense of belonging. It will be a space that draws people together and fosters unity, embodying the holistic approach to education intrinsic to the SSND educational mission and reflective of the order’s charism of unity, that all are one in God’s love.
We recently spoke with Sister Nancy Gilchriest, SSND, Provincial Leader for the SSND Atlantic-Midwest Province, who reflected on the SSND’s decision to support this campaign and their hopes for NDP’s future.
As an SSND-sponsored school, NDP is enlivened by the SSND charism of unity and mission of transformative education. How do you think this project helps advance those tenets?
Dining rooms and tables have been a gathering place from the very beginning of human history. Sharing a meal with a friend, a joke with a classmate, or last-minute quiz prep all contribute to unity. Providing a comfortable place for our students to be present with each other in fellowship is integral to the mission of transformative education.
This is the largest singular gift the School Sisters have given to Notre Dame Preparatory School. What about this project compelled the SSND to support it at such a level? Why do you think it is important for the SSND to support this project at the leadership level?
From its very beginning, Notre Dame Preparatory School has been a reflection of the values of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The articulation of the essence of the school’s mission, as stated on the NDP website, “academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice” captures the life and work of the SSNDs since our foundation in 1833. Each of these are nourished and flourish in the environment of a loving and giving community. Supporting the Common Ground campaign supports the growth of community.
This campaign’s name, Common Ground, implies coming together, which is a direct reflection of the SSND charism of unity. In a world that often feels divided, what does the concept of Common Ground mean to you, and why do you believe it is a vital lesson for the young women attending Notre Dame Prep?
We certainly do live in challenging and divided times. I believe that Common Ground signifies an awareness of the challenges of sharing our gifts for building community into the wider society, into a world aching for creative responses to the challenges it faces, and being together in a shared space. This space may be a physical location and something much, much more. It may be created by truly seeing one another, listening deeply, working together, and growing to appreciate unique perspectives. And acknowledging that true oneness recognizes there is unity in diversity.
We celebrate the heritage passed to incoming students for more than 150 years and renew it today. We stand on this Common Ground with confidence, knowing the young women of Notre Dame Prep are bound for great things.
What is your message to the NDP community about the role we all play in shaping the school's future, ensuring it remains a place where young women are empowered to transform the world?
The future of Notre Dame Prep is shaped not by any one individual, but by the collective commitment of our entire NDP community. Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that this school continues to be a place where young women are known, challenged, and inspired to lead with confidence, compassion, and courage.
A capital campaign is more than a fundraising effort. It is a shared statement of belief in the transformative power of an NDP education. By investing in our campus, our programs, and our people, we are investing in generations of young women who will use their voices, talents, and values to transform the world.
This is the largest singular gift the School Sisters have given to Notre Dame Preparatory School. What about this project compelled the SSND to support it at such a level? Why do you think it is important for the SSND to support this project at the leadership level?
From its very beginning, Notre Dame Preparatory School has been a reflection of the values of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The articulation of the essence of the school’s mission, as stated on the NDP website, “academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice” captures the life and work of the SSNDs since our foundation in 1833. Each of these are nourished and flourish in the environment of a loving and giving community. Supporting the Common Ground campaign supports the growth of community.
This campaign’s name, Common Ground, implies coming together, which is a direct reflection of the SSND charism of unity. In a world that often feels divided, what does the concept of Common Ground mean to you, and why do you believe it is a vital lesson for the young women attending Notre Dame Prep?
We certainly do live in challenging and divided times. I believe that Common Ground signifies an awareness of the challenges of sharing our gifts for building community into the wider society, into a world aching for creative responses to the challenges it faces, and being together in a shared space. This space may be a physical location and something much, much more. It may be created by truly seeing one another, listening deeply, working together, and growing to appreciate unique perspectives. And acknowledging that true oneness recognizes there is unity in diversity.
We celebrate the heritage passed to incoming students for more than 150 years and renew it today. We stand on this Common Ground with confidence, knowing the young women of Notre Dame Prep are bound for great things.
What is your message to the NDP community about the role we all play in shaping the school's future, ensuring it remains a place where young women are empowered to transform the world?
The future of Notre Dame Prep is shaped not by any one individual, but by the collective commitment of our entire NDP community. Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that this school continues to be a place where young women are known, challenged, and inspired to lead with confidence, compassion, and courage.
A capital campaign is more than a fundraising effort. It is a shared statement of belief in the transformative power of an NDP education. By investing in our campus, our programs, and our people, we are investing in generations of young women who will use their voices, talents, and values to transform the world.
Notre Dame Preparatory School
A Catholic, independent college preparatory school for girls in grades 6–12, sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame
