There’s an outer circle of people, numbering almost as many as the sisters themselves, who’ve found a way to incorporate our mission into their lives, their work and their families, through forms of association with the Congregation that match their spiritual gifts, without requiring them to take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Their lived experience in the Family of Sion is rich and diverse. There are many opportunities to learn about the evolution and character of Sion’s spirituality.
While some people only join in on the spiritual side, many support sisters in our mission work. In some places, the role of our friends and associates makes our ministry possible: they’re called on to do things sisters used to do.
Some people stay with us for short periods and volunteer their time to sharing our mission and ministry, while enjoying a unique immersive experience in a foreign country.
All these people bring new life and expression to Notre Dame de Sion. With open arms, we welcome these responses to the call of the Spirit.
If you would like to know more about being a friend of Sion, click here.
Find out more about our spirituality.
It can be life-long formative process for those who partner with us, as they progress on their own journey.
By Sr Andrea Chacón Carmona
I have known the Sion sisters since I was a child. They had a community in my parish, …
By Sr Anna Bodzińska
“What a joy it was when I was told, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” …
By Sr Anne Brittain
It is possible for me, at this stage, to look back at what a very precious gift life …
By Sr Anne Mc Nally
As a Religious, I undertake to pray daily, using the Breviary which contains the Biblical Psalms, and reading …
By Sr Anne-Catherine Avril
The Word of God. I love the Word of God as I love God himself, as I love …
By Sr Anne-Cécile Rupied
Spiritual accompaniment means “walking with”. We are, indeed, all pilgrims; like Abraham, at the call of the Lord, …
By Sr Arlyne Del Valle Casas
For a sister of Sion living in the Philippines, the call of God to do justice in a …
By Sr Bernadette O’Reilly
I want to begin by saying that spiritual direction has not been my main ministry but has always …
By Sr Brenda McCole
I have been involved in the field of education for many, many years, and one of my great …
By Sr Carina Maria Minkarios
Though I am originally from Alexandria, I’ve spent many years in Cairo. After a long career in education, …
By Sr Carmen Farrugia
I had been teaching for almost five years in a parish school in North London when I was …
By Sr Christiane Marie Formant
I was always a teacher. Ever since I could read, I wanted to “do school” – starting with …
By Sr Claudia Muresan
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…” (John 15,10a) If I am a sister …
By Sr Cristiane Dos Santos
I can trace the first stirrings of my inspiration for ministry in Jewish-Christian and interreligious dialogue to the …
By Sr Crystal Anievas
Ask any sister of Sion in which three places one should look to find nourishment and guidance for …
By Sr Diane Willey
The introduction to our founder Théodore Ratisbonne’s Memoirs draws attention to the two principal elements that “forged his …
By Sr Diva da Luz Regazzo
I remember when I used to visit my grandparents; my still-childish eyes would gaze at the pictures and …
By Sr Dorothée Vahle
My contemplative life? It is first and foremost a life of faith. I don’t yet know the full …
By Sr Isabelle Denis
Born in 1946, after the Second World War, I was marked as a child by articles about the …
By Sr Maria Jilvaneide dos Santos
Working in the area of education, and specifically in Pastoral Care and Religious Education at the Colégio Sion-RJ, …
By Sr Juliana Baldinger
The word “charity” appears over and over again in our founder Théodore’s vocabulary. He writes in one of …
By Sr Lucy Thorson
I have been involved in the area of Jewish-Christian relations for many years. They are one of the …
By Sr. Katherine E. Wolff
How to write about a whole life in so few words?! A challenge and obviously incomplete! Every day …
By Sr Margaret (Marge) Zdunich
My first encounter with the Sisters of Sion was as a student at Sion Academy High School in …
By Sr Maria Célia De Oliveira Couto
The apostolate of the Daughters of Sion is, in its essence, carried out through prayer and a life …
By Sr Marie Alphonse Riboni
As contemplatives, we are responding to a call, Follow me, like Abram (Gen 12:1ff), Moses (Ex 3:10), Matthew …
By Sr Maria Odor Malau
I grew up in Indonesia, where the majority of the population are Muslims, so I am used to …
By Sr Marie Lise Adou
It was in the midst of my work as a secretary at the Notre Dame de Sion secondary …
By Sr Marie-Luc Champot
I have been living in an elderly people’s home in the south of France for some years, with …
By Sr Martine Zaman
The garden is an integral part of our life at La Solitude, of my contemplative life in Sion! …
By Sr Mary Reaburn
Naturally my Christian commitment and my life as a sister are intertwined. The charism of the sisters of …
By Sr Maureen Cusick
I grew up in a close-knit, warm family with deeply Catholic roots, immersed and involved in parish life. …
By Sr Monique Huberfeld
Born into a Jewish family that emigrated to France, it was while hiding in an orphanage run by …
By Sr Nadia Tawfik
How did I feel the presence of our Lord in my life? Before I answer this question, I …
By Sr Ofelia (Leah) De la Torre
The Philippines are are an archipelago of islands in South East Asia, facing the Pacific Ocean. They experience …
By Sr Oonah O’Shea
When I joined the sisters of Sion in 1968, little did I think that a little over 20 …
By Sr Patricia (Pat) Fox
I have to admit, I did not come from an “activist” family, but I did come from a …
By Sr Rita Kammermayer
Born and raised in Canada, I have been living in Jerusalem at Ecce Homo Convent since 1997. Our …
By Sr Rosemarie Wesolowski
My name is Rosemarie and I am a physician. For almost 20 years I worked as an anesthesiologist …
By Sr Teresa Brittain
It all began with the fact that my best friend at school was Jewish; not that I ever …
By Sr Therese Fitzgerald
My counselling practice is based in Dublin, with some appointments online. My approach lends itself to working with …
By Sr Victoria Nabil
I have always been interested in psychology and liked caring for people in need – the sick, the …