Birth of the Congregation
When Hilligonde Wolbring felt a call to care for and educate neglected children, she found support in her friend Elisabeth Kühling. In 1850 the two German teachers took the suggestion of their parish curate, Rev. Theodor Elting, to do their work as religious, and a new congregation was born. During their religious formation, Hilligonde (Sister Maria Aloysia) and Elisabeth (Sister Maria Ignatia) found the rule as taught them by sisters from Amersfoort, The Netherlands, compatible with their own centeredness in a loving and provident God whose care they wanted to extend to others. When the Amersfoort sisters returned to their homeland five years later, the religious institute of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Coesfeld had a growing novitiate and a flourishing educational ministry.

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