School Sisters of Notre Dame announce election of new provincial council

Sister Nancy Gilchriest was elected to a four-year term as provincial leader along with a new five-sister council by the School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Atlantic-Midwest Province. 

The School Sisters welcomed School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Dominica Michalke, the general superior from Rome, to preside over their election assembly held Sept. 7-12 in Baltimore.

The election assembly convened to reflect on the future of the province and elect new leadership for the next four years, according to a media release by the SSND. 

“We are filled with immense joy and gratitude as we welcome Sister Nancy Gilchriest to her new leadership role as provincial,” current Provincial Leader Sister Charmaine Krohe said in the media release from the S.S.N.D. “Her deep faith, and unwavering commitment to our mission make her an inspired choice to guide our province into the future along with our four council-elect.” 

The order has been undergoing major changes in its ministry in Baltimore. Villa Assumpta, which has been the S.S.N.D. home in the region for 75 years, will no longer be a place of residence for the order’s sisters. The Towson site is being prepared for sale as 37 sisters move from their residence at 6401 N. Charles St. to a new home at Stella Maris in Timonium.

“As the Atlantic-Midwest Province begins this new chapter, building on the strong legacy of those who have gone before them, we look forward to a council that will continue to serve our communities and share the charism of the School Sisters of Notre Dame with a world in need,” the order announced in the media release.

The new leadership officially takes office Dec. 8, with a Liturgy of Installation at Villa Assumpta, which still will be used as the order’s regional offices until there is a sale.

The S.S.N.D. congregation is an international community of women religious. More than 1,700 sisters from the order currently minister in 27 countries. 

The Provincial Council-elect is as follows:

Sister Nancy Gilchriest (provincial-elect)

Sister Paula Dukehart (councilor-elect/vicar)

Sister Delia Dowling (councilor-elect)

Sister Celeste Reinhart (councilor-elect)

Sister Mary Roy Weiss (councilor-elect)

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