NOTRE DAM DE SION

The Congregation of Our Lady of Sion was founded in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century by Theodore Ratisbonne, a Jewish man who became a Catholic and a priest. It was the women who worked with him in the parish in France who asked him to found a congregation because they wished to live a community life. Theodore refused this request on several occasions and it was only later in 1842 when his younger brother, Alphonse became a Catholic did he agree to this request. In the conversion of Alphonse, Theodore saw that possibly this was a sign that God did want this congregation to be established. Thus the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion came into being in 1843 and received the approbation from the Holy See on September 8, 1863.

In his writings Father Theodore wrote, “Sion is the true family name of Mary."

The name Our Lady of Sion chosen by our founder indicates the significance of Mary for us. Daughter of Sion par excellence, Mary lived the faith and hope of her people to the full.

"Willingly receiving the Word of God, she became the mother of Jesus and followed him to the cross. She was present in the early Church. Having entered into the fullness of redemption, she confirms the destiny to which we are all called." (9th article of the Constitution)

The charism of the Sisters of Sion

The charism given to Fr. Theodore is a continuing gift of God for the Church.

"In the light of the ecumenical movement and of the signs of the times, especially the experiences of the Jewish people, the Church, reflecting on her own origin and mission, has rediscovered her roots in God’s revelation to Israel. At the same time, a new relationship is developing between the Church and the Jewish community; the Congregation grows in understanding its vocation and responds in a new way to the founder’s inspiration." (3rd article of the Constitution)

  • Jewish Christian Relations Convinced of God’s love for the whole of creation, we believe that God has a Project of Life for all. At the heart of this plan is the word of God, God’s enduring covenant with the Jewish people and the promises revealed to them for all humanity. We are nourished and transformed by this Word of God.
  • Education Through different forms of Education, we endeavor to transmit the biblical perspective of human life which we ourselves are continually trying to appropriate; namely, the dignity of the human person, the love that God has for each person in her/his uniqueness and for each people in its distinctiveness. (Constitutions No.15)
  • Social Justice The events of our world and of our lives urge us to hear the cry of the poor and to respond anew to the call to do justice. The history of the Jewish People makes us particularly sensitive to the rights of minorities. or the poor, and of all who are marginalized in our society. (Constitutions No. 15)

We wish to learn more of Islam and appreciate the values and teachings of the Muslim faith and traditions.

We work towards a greater understanding between the Church and the Jewish people and a deeper respect Between races, traditions and cultures.

We strive to overcome anti-Semitism and any kind of Prejudice in the Church and in the wider community.

We do this through

  • Prayer
  • Theological and Biblical study
  • Educating ourselves and others
  • Engaging in dialogue
  • Promoting justice
  • Encouraging peaceful means of reconciliation
  • Being concerned about the environment

"We are called to witness by our life to God’s faithful love for the Jewish people and to his fidelity to the promises he revealed to the patriarchs and the prophets of Israel for all humanity. In Christ, the pledge of their fulfilment is given to us. This call implies that our apostolic life is characterized by a three-fold commitment: to the Church, to the Jewish people and to a world of justice, peace and love. Whatever task we are engaged in, we are called to integrate in some way, these three dimensions of our apostolic commitment. " (13th article of the Constitution)

The founders

  • Theodore Ratisbonne - Theodore Simon Ratisbonne, the second son of Auguste and Adelaide (Cerfbeer) Ratisbonne, was born in 1802. A Jewish family of German origin living in Alsace, they were a highly assimilated family. In his early twenties, Theodore became a Christian and later a priest. He was deeply conscious of the Jewish roots of Christianity and saw the vital relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
  • Alphonse Charles Tobias Ratisbonne - Alphonse Charles Tobias Ratisbonne, Theodore's younger brother was born in 1814. It was Alphonse, (age 13) when Theodore became a Christian who became very hostile towards his brother. Years later in 1842, on a trip to Rome prior to his marriage Alphonse had a vision of Mary and later became a Christian.

Seeing in this a sign, Theodore once again considered a request to found an order of sisters who wished to live a community life. In 1848 the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion was established.