The Congregation of Our Lady of Sion is made up of two Roman Catholic religious congregations, both founded in Paris. The Fathers (Brothers) of Our Lady of Sion, composed of Catholic priests and Religious Brothers, was founded in 1852, and the Religious Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, founded in 1843. Both were founded by Marie-Theodor Ratisbonne and his brother, Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne. The Ratisbonne brothers were born in Strasbourg to a secular Jewish family, and religion did not play a significant part of their early lives. As an adult, Theodore was converted to Catholicism, baptized in 1826 and ordained as a priest in 1830. In 1842, the Virgin Mary appeared to Alphonse and he too was baptized, soon entering the Society of Jesus, where he remained for several years. In 1843, Theodore founded a community of women who desired to join him in the education of Jewish children, prompted by two Jewish sisters who had come to him for guidance and later converted to Christianity. In 1850, Alphonse was given permission from the Pope to leave the Society and join his brother in his work. Together, they founded the Congregation of the Fathers of Our Lady of Sion in 1852. Alphonse moved to the Holy Land in 1858, and established a convent for the Sisters of the congregation, where he also built an orphanage and vocational school, to be run by the Sisters. A motherhouse was established in Paris for the Fathers. In 1874, work began on the Ratisbonne Monastery on what was then the outskirts of Jerusalem, which now houses a branch of the Salesian Pontifical University. The Fathers changed from an emphasis on the conversion of Jews to working to promote better understanding and closer ties between Christians and Jews. The Sisters were concentrated in France and the Holy Land for many years, then expanded into the British Isles and Australia, and now have locations in twenty-two countries. Like the Fathers, the Sisters no longer emphasize conversion of the Jews.
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Sisters of Our Lady of Sion |
Recommended Resources
Formation Resources for Sion Associates
Associates of Sion are committed to the charism of the Sisters of Sion in its commitment to the Catholic Church, the Jewish people, and peace, justice and love in the world. The themes for Sion Associate formation themes at Notre Dame Seminary are put forth, along with prayers, periodicals, journals, and associated web sites. For each of the fourteen themes, additional information and details are posted.
http://www.ndsformation.com/
A joint effort by sisters, brothers, associates and friends of Sion, the site offers information about the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, including articles about its charism, news about its efforts toward Jewish-Christian interfaith dialogue, Church news, and news from the Order’s various locations throughout the world. Also featured are biblical readings and educational materials.
http://friendsofsion.org/
Notre Dame de Sion Congregational Novitiate Jerusalem
The Congregation of Our Lady of Sion is made up of the Religious of Sion (Brothers), the Apostolic and Contemplative Sisters of Sion, and the Friends of NDS, also known as the Associates of Sion. The Order’s formation process includes the levels of candidacy, postulancy, novitiate, and Juniorate, each of which are described here, along with the Order’s charism, ministries, and locations.
http://www.nds-novitiate.org/
Notre Dame de Sion, Mediterranean Region
The Religious Congregation of Our Lady of Sion was founded by Theodore Ratisbonne, who was later joined by his brother, Alphonse, who helped to found the Sister of Our Lady of Sion. The Religious of Sion, the Apostolic Sisters, Contemplative Sisters, Friends and Associates of Sion are introduced, including the charism and history of the Order, vocations, and Biblical formation.
http://notredamedesion.ndsmed.org/
The Religious of Our Lady of Sion
Also known as Religieux de Notre Dame de Sion Jerusalem, the Order goes back to Theodore and Alphonse Ratisbonne, two Jewish brothers who converted to Catholicism, and went on to found an Order focused on the evangelism of the Jews. Together with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion and other institutions, the Brothers of Sion now work to support and form Christian centers of Jewish studies.
http://www.brothersofsion.org.il/
