Mankato Province Heritage

The School Sisters of Notre Dame are members of a worldwide congregation of nearly 4,000 women religious headquartered in Rome, Italy, serving in over 34 countries. The North American Major Area is made up of six provinces including Mankato, Canada, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Atlantic-Midwest, and Dallas and the District of Africa and the Region of Japan and Guam. Mankato is one of 20 international provinces and is made up of about 350 sisters who serve people throughout the upper Midwest, Latin America, and Africa.

Established in Bavaria in 1833 to educate and minister among poor women and children, our foundress Blessed Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, brought sisters to America in 1847 to teach children of German immigrants.

Arriving in Mankato in September 1865, four School Sisters of Notre Dame opened SS. Peter and Paul parish school, the first Catholic school in southern Minnesota.

Mankato Province was officially established in 1912 with the completion of our provincial house, and day and boarding school for young girls. The Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel was part of Minnesota's educational tradition for nearly 80 years.