notre dame academy Staten island
A Catholic academy founded and administered by the Congregation of Notre Dame
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne in France, on April 17, 1620. At the age of thirty-three she made the perilous trip across the Atlantic in order to initiate an apostolate of education in Ville Marie, now the city of Montreal. Her pupils there were both native children and the children of the early French settlers. And quite revolutionary for that time - she taught girls as well as boys.
Marguerite, a visionary and courageous woman, understood that the cloistered life which was the only religious life available to her at the time - while certainly holding a special place in the Church - did not fully imitate Mary's journeying life which began with her visitation to her cousin Elisabeth. She desired to create a community that reflected that spirit of the Visitaiton which Mary continued to practice at the wedding feast of Cana, at the foot of the cross and in the upper room. Marguerite actually considered Our Lady the foundress and first superior of the CNDs. And so our school is dedicated to Notre Dame. From the writings of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys:
"It is she (Mary) whom we regard as the foundress of this little company of women, who though they live in community, are not cloistered so that they may be sent for the instruction of girls to all the places judged suitable...It is, therefore, very reasonable that we commit ourselves to follow the way of life she led, the virtues she practiced, the work she carried on."
After 47 years of life dedicated to the service of God and her neighbor, Marguerite Bourgeoys died in Montreal on the January 12th, 1700. She was 80 years old, an extraordinary age for that time, and was already known as a person of eminent holiness. Marguerite Bourgeoys was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982.
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About NDA
Mission Statement
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Belief Statements
The Campus
Campus Ministry
Ophelia Project
Board of Trustees
Message from the President
