The mission statement of Notre Dame Academy, which espouses the ideas of “best of yourself, concern for others and the ability to make a positive difference in the world”, implemented by Sister Mary Agnetis as early as 1906, has set the direction of the all-girls Catholic school in Northern Kentucky for almost 120 years. From 1907 until our most recent graduates of 2025, attired in their white graduation dress/ commencement gown and carrying their bouquet of red roses, each graduate knows that the diploma she carries in her hand has prepared her to use her talents to make a difference in not just her life, but in the world in which she lives. The strong education in liberal arts has given her a firm foundation of knowledge not in just her field of interest but also in the vast experiences needed to positively interact in our world-wide community. Opportunities to deepen and immerse her in the Catholic faith have instilled in her a strong moral compass by which to center her life. And the rich traditions derived from the Sisters of Notre Dame have provided a legacy by which to live for every generation.
For 159 graduates the rich traditions of the Sisters spoke directly to their soul and provided the pathway to their futures as they pronounced their final vows as Sisters of Notre Dame. Many of them served the northern Kentucky community as grade school and high school teachers, several as college professors, health care professionals, student counselors, campus ministers and business administrators. But for almost half of those graduates, their calling as a Sister of Notre Dame brought them full circle, returning to their alma mater as teachers, staff and administrators and providing a personal link to that special legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Their dedication and service have been instrumental in shaping the lives and futures of countless young women who have joined them as graduates of Notre Dame Academy.
In this issue of The Notre Damian we would like to highlight those Sisters who entered Notre Dame Academy as wide-eyed, eager freshmen and returned as much beloved faculty and staff members.
From 1907 until the present day, there have been 66 Notre Dame Academy graduates who have embraced God’s calling for religious life with the Sisters of Notre Dame and then returned to their alma mater as teachers and staff members. According to our records, the earliest graduate to take this journey was Mary Lubrecht, class of 1907, who professed her final vows as Sr. Mary Irene in the mid-1910s and then returned to Notre Dame Academy as a music teacher in 1927 (picture not available).
The latest graduate to follow in these footsteps was Marla Monahan, class of 1967, who professed her vows as Sr. Mary Elizabeth in the mid- 1970s and returned to NDA between 1976-1980 as a Math teacher and then again as Campus Minister between 1993-2005.
All of the NDA graduates who became members of the SND congregation and returned as faculty/staff to NDA spent the majority (if not all) of their student years at the 5th Street campus in Covington. Sr. Elaine Marie, Sr. Mary Lynne (Sr. Ethel) and Sr. Mary Renee were members of the Class of 1964, who bridged the movement from 5th Street to Hilton Drive and were members of the first class to graduate from the new campus after moving there in October of 1963. The last two students who became Sisters, Sr. Shauna’65 and Sr. Mary Elizabeth’67 (Sr. Marla), split their time as students between the two campuses.
As we looked back through old Gavels and Patrins, we were able to learn about the daily lives of those NDA students who became Sisters of Notre Dame and have included pictures and remembrances of each at the end of this article. Currently there are 14 Sisters of Notre Dame who are NDA alumnae and who live in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky community. We were able to interview seven of those Sisters about their experiences as an NDA student and are pleased to share their responses of the following Sisters:
Helen Margaret Hanneken , Class of 1950 Rachel Nerone, Class of 1954
Sr. Paul Ann (Hanneken) Sr. Mary Marlene / Sr. Rachel (Nerone)
1978-1989, 1994-2017: Guidance, Academic Counselor 1964-2002, 2007-2017: Math, Algebra, Choral Club,
SND Superior, Work Study Coordinator Student Council, Administration, Work Study Coordinator
Patricia Shelton, Class of 1959 Judith Averbeck, Class of 1960
Sr. Mary Lynette (Shelton) Sr. Mary Lucienne / Sr. Judith (Averbeck)
2011-2013: President 1968-2006: Biology, Chemistry, Choral Club,
Science Club
Kathleen Sweeney, Class of 1961 Elaine Winter, Class of 1964
Sr. Mary Patrycia (Sweeney) Sr. Elaine Marie (Winter)
2015-2018: Study Hall Monitor 1996-2010: Assistant Principal, Principal
Ethel Parrott, Class of 1964 (standing, L-R) Sr. Judith’60, Sr. Dolores’55,
Sr. Mary Lynne / Sr. Mary Ethel (Parrott) Sr. Marla’67, Sr. Rachel’54, Sr. Ethel’64,
1972-2013: Physics, Math, Science Research (seated, L-R) Sr. Reina, Sr. Paul Ann’50.
Academically, it seems that English was one of their favorite subjects, closely followed by Religion, History and Latin. It was no surprise that Sr. Judith liked Biology and Sr. Rachel liked Math the best, as these were the subjects they eventually taught. When these Sisters attended NDA, the majority of the faculty were SNDs, so it was also no surprise that some of their favorite teachers included Srs. Cephas, Caroline, Sebastian, Charla, Charlanne, Mary Jeaneen, Mary Mercedes, Reina and Mary Immacula.
What was student life like for these young women? From our records all of the 66 students seemed to enjoy their high school years at Notre Dame Academy, fully participating in many aspects of “high school life”. They were active in all types of extracurricular activities, such as sports, theatrical productions, chorus, and dances. (*see listing at the end of this article)
Sr. Mary Ethel remembered that she and her friends loved to read
and attend plays, especially the Greek tragedies and Shakespearean
plays presented at Playhouse in the Park. Sr. Judith enjoyed drawing
and basketball, whereas Sr. Rachel liked playing volleyball and ping
pong, as did Sr. Lynette. Sr. Patrycia and Sr. Rachel both were members
of the school chorus.
They were writers and editors for The Gavel, the Patrins/Tapestry, and members of the Quill and Scroll Society. Many were academic scholars and received scholastic honors every quarter. Many also held leadership roles in Student Council, as well as with various clubs and committees.
Sr. Rachel held several positions in Student Government and
Sr. Mary Ethel was a key member of the school’s “It’s Academic”
team. Several other Sisters were highlighted in the yearbook as holding
key positions in student government as well as editors of the Gavel
and Patrin.
Several attended NDA on scholarship but is seems that just as many paid their tuition through the work study program and spent their high school years working after school and on weekends to help their parents pay tuition.
As part of our interviews, we asked each Sister for their favorite memories from their time as a student at NDA.
Sr. Ethel: “Some of my favorite memories center around the classes I took
because I found my teachers to be so knowledgeable and engaging. My friends
and I enjoyed hanging out after classes at school. We were not into “girl drama”
and relationships were easy!”
Sr. Patrycia: “I loved how our teachers really cared about how we were doing. I
remember feeling welcomed and safe from the very beginning. I felt like I mattered.”
Sr. Judith: “I remember hanging out with fellow students on the stairway behind
Senior C before classes in the morning; leaning out the chem lab window on 5th St.
to disperse the abundance of bromine gas we had generated in our test tubes; and
helping the “nuns” set up and serve during various evets held for different
groups.”
Sr. Elaine: “My favorite memories are of riding the special TANK bus in from
Campbell County every morning and meeting so many new girls and
making friends, many of which I still have lunch with. Also, the challenging
classes, except for gym because we had to walk on the city streets to St.
Aloysius in our gym uniforms!”
Sr. Paul Ann: “I also remember the green gym uniforms. I thought they were really
cool! Also, I remember that my girlfriend and I walked to school every morning
together.”
Sr. Rachel: “I remember going to dances with friends at the K of C hall.”
Sr. Lynette: “I can still remember the feel and sound of the wooden steps in the 5th
street building. Also, the experience of making new friends. I came from a
very small grade school, where there were only 3 people in my grade level.
So, meeting so many girls from all over and making new friends was great.”
Although our records are not fully complete, we know that at least 21 found their calling to religious life as a student. Known as Aspirants (AND), these students resided at St. Joseph Heights, but attended classes as normal, wore the same uniform as regular students and participated in all extracurricular activities of their choosing. For the remaining students, it seems their calling to religious life occurred either towards the end of their high school experience or after graduation. In either case, it appears that most of these students felt drawn to a future life in some type of educational facility. Many were influenced in some form by their experiences with the Sisters of Notre Dame from the Academy. Many completed at least several years of college level instruction before taking their final vows as religious. And in almost all cases, post-secondary work in their field of study was completed as a fully professed Sister of Notre Dame.
Sr. Ethel: “I guess religious life was always what seemed like an “unattractive call” in
the background, but there must have been something appealing at the same time. No
doubt I was influenced by my experiences at NDA. I identified with the commitment to
excellence I saw in my teachers. And I saw Sisters become almost like parents to some of
my classmates. I also saw that many of the Sisters were good friends with each other.
And I gave thought to what it must be like to live with others who were not very alike
one another.”
Sr. Patrycia: “I was so impressed by how the Sisters treated each other,
that I found I wanted to live with people like that. I had been taught in grade by
three other communities, but none of them impressed me as the SNDs did. I had not
considered religious life before entering NDA, but during my sophomore year, I began
thinking about it – though I did fight it for a couple of years.”
Sr. Judith: “I began to consider it when I was a junior at NDA. I loved being with
certain Sisters, interacting and working with them. Their dedication and expertise,
friendliness and deep spirituality made a big impression. I knew that I wanted to
become close to God like they were. So, when Sr. Vincentia asked if I had ever thought
about it, the question really made me explore the possibility more concretely.
Sr. Elaine: “I had SNDs during grade school and then again at NDA. I felt God was
calling me to religious life because I saw that the Sisters were happy, dedicated and
good teachers. I think attending NDA helped confirm my decision to become a SND.
Sr. Paul Ann: “When I was a sophomore at NDA, I felt the calling to become a member
of a religious house. Attending NDA helped formed that decision and to follow in the
steps of the SNDs”.
Sr. Rachel: “I never realized it until Sr. Immacula at NDA talked to me about it.”
Sr. Lynette: “I felt a calling towards religious life when I was in the 7th grade and was
highly influenced by the SNDs who taught in Carrollton. And so, I entered NDA as an
Aspirant.”
In most cases, a Sister of Notre Dame had very little say in where she would settle to live and work. They were sent by the Provincial to where the need was greatest: hospitals, social agencies, administration, grade schools, etc. And sometimes, even back to their alma mater, where they could continue to make a difference in the lives of students who now trod in their footsteps. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, pictures of the Sisters on faculty were not permitted to be printed in the Patrins (school yearbook), so the Sisters offered parting words of advice to the seniors which were
printed throughout each edition. Below is a sample of some of “bits of advice” most remembered by students:
Sr. Mary Constance: “Mary’s strength of character lies revealed in the words: ‘Behold
the handmaid of the Lord’; nothing could swerve her from that loving servitude”.
Sr. Mary St. Clare: “Let God be your director and Mary your guiding star. Then life
will be one grand sing after another.”
Sr. Mary Sheila: “If you wish to stay forever young, never lose the sense of wonder and
joy in ordinary things.”
Sr. Mary Josette: “Keep an unabridged dictionary of kind words always within reach”
Sr. Mary Jean: “Perfection does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing
ordinary things thoughtfully and well – for God”
Sr. Mary Merita: “There is a God in science, a God in history, and a God in conscience,
and these three are One.”
Sr. Mary Joseline: “The happiness of life may be greatly increased by small courtesies, by
thoughtfulness of others, and kindness.”
Sr. Mary Philip : “A good disposition is more valuable than gold; for gold is the gift
fortune, but a winning personality is a gift of God.”
Sr. Mary Dolorita: “If you haven’t grace, the Lord can give it to you; if you haven’t
learning, teachers can help you; but if you haven’t common sense, I pity you.”
Finally, we asked our Sisters to describe the differences they felt returning to their alma mater as a faculty/staff member as compared to their days as
a student.
Sr. Ethel: “The sisterhood has always been there! The concern for each person
as an individual is still so strong at NDA. The spirit feels the same to me. As would
be expected, the classes have evolved over time and the strength of a particular
program still depends on the commitment of the faculty and students. The main
curriculum has evolved into a broad-based liberal arts approach, versus the liberal
arts/business tracks that were available when I was a student. It was a very turbulent
time when I started teaching at NDA in the 1970s. There were a couple of years when
all of the previous rules had been suspended and the students made the rules.
There were also several years when there was a very innovative modular schedule
with classes of both large and small groups as well as no group instruction – everyone
was on an individual schedule. I find that the students today are actually much more
like we were in the early 1960s.”
Sr. Patrycia: The physical building was completely different, but I found the girls to be
typical teenagers as we were. They were always trying to get out of some work, like we
did at that age.”
Sr. Judith: The physical settings were quite different. Except for a few years in the 1970s,
when the majority of students were more restive, oppositional and presented a challenge
to teach, most of the years the students seemed as eager to learn and as cooperative as
in the past.
Sr. Elaine: When I returned to NDA, I found a lot of the same school spirit, but now the
PANDA was a big part of it. We did not have a school mascot or spirit wear when I
attended. The teachers still took an interest in each student, challenged the students to
do and be their best and the curriculum was as challenging as when I was a student.
Sr. Paul Ann: The buildings were completely different. The students still wear uniforms,
as we did, but now they roll up their skirts and they are too short. On the 5th St. campus,
most students walked or rode the TANK buses to and from school. Now everyone drives
their own cars.
Sr. Rachel: As a student I always wanted in on “the action” and I feel like the students
today still want action. I liked working with the girls on Student Council because it
reminded me of my time on Student Council. I think the girls today are friendlier and
more accepting of the teachers and the SNDs. When I was a student there seemed to be
more distance.
During the summer of 2024, we celebrated the 150th year of the first settlement of Sisters of Notre Dame in the Covington area. During those years, the inhabitants of the first convent on Montgomery St. and Fifth St in Covington to St. Joseph Heights in Park Hills have continued to spread the philosophy of St. Julie Billiart to all they encountered. Between the 1940-60s, the number of Sisters increased and often became a life-long influence on whom they taught and ministered as evidence from just a few of the following remembrances:
“Sr. Lynette Shelton gave me the opportunity to be the teacher that I am today.”
(Julaina Skidmore-Bishop)
“Sr. Mary Kevan Seibert always told me ‘we do all for the greater honor and glory of God’”
(Marge Freeman Schnelle)
“Sr. Emmanuel always encouraged better manners. She would walk around cafeteria at lunch
and always correct any breaches of good manners, like elbows on the table.”
(Annalee Schlesinger Flanagan)
“I absolutely adored the Sisters at NDA. Sr. Mary Jean became my friend and mentor and my
daughter bears her name.” (Mary Lou Schmeing Vonder Brink)
“I have many memories of the Sisters at NDA. Sr. Mary Jean was a fantastic teacher, but also
funny. When she couldn’t get any responses to her questions, she would always say, ‘Girls, you’re
sleepy; open a window!’ Also Sr. Mary Verda, who wouldn’t believe it now, but I actually did
learn how to make my clothes. And finally, Sr. Mary Constance who inspired me to become a
chemist (even though I never as able to achieve that goal, my daughter is currently studying for
her PhD in Chemistry).” (Patricia Wittkamp Boyd)
In the Spring of 2025, due to the dwindling numbers of active Sisters, the very hard decision to sell the “Heights” was made, which will include the demolition of the building. No longer will the majesty and dignity of the building and grounds be a visible sign of the Sisters of Notre Dame in the community.
Their story goes on, however, in the lives of those Sisters who are still vibrant members of our community and through the Associate Program which promotes a membership of lay women and men. But most importantly, the SND heritage will be continued on through the lives of all NDA graduates who follow the footsteps of those who came before.
For a complete listing of all 66 graduates who professed vows to the Sisters of Notre Dame and then returned to NDA as faculty and staff, please NDA Grads To SND Smaller.