An Important Update Regarding Sr. Virginia

Dear Chez Nous Community,

TS Eliot wrote in the 4th Quartet: “We shall not cease from exploration and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.” Sr. Virginia has returned to where she began, to the eternal embrace of Divine Love.

 

Nothing is the same after the death of someone we love. Our grief upon losing them is terrible. Something breaks within us. Nowhere in the Scriptures does Jesus ever promise us a life free from suffering, but he does promise to be with us during all the eventualities of our lives. This is where our hope lies. Because God has poured his love into our hearts, so that even when our difficulties cause our hearts to ache, we realize how strong we are. We endure, endowed with a hope, as Pope Francis reminds us, that does not disappoint.

 

We know that we can count on the Notre Dame community to support and console one another during this time of loss and sorrow. Our school truly is one of Sr. Virginia’s most important legacies. She made it what it is, our home, from the beautiful interior and exterior of West 13th Street, to the strong academic curriculum we are all so proud of today, to the Anne’s Values peer leadership program, and essentially to every aspect of our school life. As you know, Sr. Virginia was there at every school event, chief cheerleader for every sports team, musical director for many a Lady of Lourdes Day celebration, and inspiration for our school’s strong spiritual life so that everyone could develop a relationship with a loving God and with one another.

 

Our alumnae, our Chez Nous sisters, know how profound Sr. Virginia’s impact was on their beloved alma mater. As a wonderful school counselor, she ensured that so many students found their pathways to success. During her fifteen years as President of Notre Dame, the longest tenure of anyone in that role, she led the school through its first NYSAIS accreditation, achieved a doubling of enrollment, oversaw its deft handling of the COVID-19 crisis, set new fundraising records, and of course, supervised its many phases of renovation. A cherished alumna herself from the Class of ‘70, we know her classmates hold her in special regard, and our prayers are with them especially.

 

Our Board of Trustees have always worked closely with Sr. Virginia and are utterly devoted to Notre Dame’s mission. Sr. Virginia always wanted the best for our school and all its students. It will be our work together in the days ahead to provide comfort and to make sure that Sr. Virginia’s life’s work continues to thrive as ND graduates young women who will lead and serve because of the fine education they received Chez Nous.  

 

Fr. Vincent Biagi, SJ

Chair, Board of Trustees

Notre Dame School

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