The Hallmarks
of a Notre Dame de Namur
Learning Community
Hallmark 1 We proclaim by our lives even more than by our words that God is good. a. We believe, even in the midst of today’s reality that God is good, and we stand firm in our commitment to honor the goodness in ourselves, in others and our world. b. We value life as an ongoing spiritual journey of deepening relationships with God, self, others and all creation. c. We make relevant to the life of our Notre Dame learning communities the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the spirituality of St. Julie Billiart, and we allow these to influence our actions in today’s world. d. We make decisions respecting and informed by Gospel values and Catholic social teaching and tradition. e. We create policies sensitive to those to whom and with whom we minister, reflecting the mission and values of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Hallmark 2 We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person. a. We believe each person is created in the image and likeness of God; therefore, we develop and appreciate relationships that respect individual differences. b. We create environments that encourage the development of the whole person. c. We dedicate time, space, and personnel in support of the individual’s spiritual and personal journey.
Hallmark 3 We educate for and act on behalf of justice, peace, and care for all creation. a. We educate for justice and take socially responsible actions against injustice and discrimination in all its forms. b. We make decisions by being aware of the effect they will have on the lives of vulnerable persons. c. We ground our actions for justice in the spiritual practice of reflection-action-reflection. d. We live and act with reverence for the earth, putting into practice the principles of Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. e. We foster responsible global citizenship and commit ourselves to the practice of dialogue, nonviolence, restorative justice and peace-making. f. We strive to be flexible, risk-taking communities that respond to the signs and needs of the times.