.jpg)
Sr. Teresita Weind, SNDdeN
Her faith was not a solitary flame but a radiant beacon that drew others into its warmth. Sr. Teresita Weind, SNDdeN—born Helen Louise Weind—died on April 28, 2024, at Mount Notre Dame Health Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, after months of painful suffering. At 81 years of age, she left behind a life that stretched across continents and decades, marked by courageous leadership, tireless service, and a profound commitment to the dignity of every person.
A Life Sistered by Mission
From her early years in Columbus, Ohio, Teresita’s path appeared at first within the circle of the Baptist faith and the rhythms of a working-class family. The loss of her father before she was two and a mother who labored tirelessly to provide for eight children forged in Teresita a resilience and a sense of social justice that would mature into a lifelong vocation. Her baptism at Shiloh Baptist Church and the transformative choir experience at St. Dominic Parish School planted seeds—seeds that would grow into a deep love for worship, sacred song, and the Catholic faith that later became her spiritual home.
Teresita’s journey toward religious life faced early barriers. When she sought entry to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1960, she encountered a barrier based on race. Yet she did not abandon her discernment. Instead, she found a welcoming path with the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, who received her into their community in Spring Valley, Illinois, on September 8, 1960. She took the name Teresita in religious life, pronounced her vows in 1963, and began a remarkable vocation that would span more than six decades.
From Nurse to Scholar, from Local Parishes to Global Leadership
Teresita’s early years as a nurse formed the practical heart of her ministry. Trained as a nurse in Bottineau, North Dakota (1966) and later earning a B.S. in Nursing from Mary College, Bismarck (1969), she brought care, competence, and compassion to every patient she served. Yet she did not rest with the bedside; she pursued deeper study, earning a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Mundelein College in 1972. Her master’s thesis, Black Theology Begins in Preaching, signaled a vocation not only to serve but to interpret faith through the realities of Black experience and justice.
Teresa’s ministry expanded in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects, where she was invited to join a team ministering to residents and exploring the Church’s mission in urban settings. The Archdiocese of Chicago soon recognized her gifts, appointing her as Director of Liturgical Formation for Black Parishes (1973) and guiding RCIA implementation as this program gained a new life in the wake of liturgical renewal in the 1970s. Her leadership and pastoral work flowed into parish life and beyond, including a range of retreats, workshops, and liturgical formation activities that helped thousands encounter God more deeply.
Her discernment and perseverance bore fruit in a new chapter with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In 1973 she transferred her vows to the SNDdeN, a move that would bring her to the heart of a global congregation devoted to education, social justice, and the empowerment of women and girls on five continents. Teresita’s extraordinary gifts—her spiritual depth, her warmth, and her ability to bridge cultures and communities—would become hallmarks of her leadership.
Global Leadership and the SNDdeN Mission
Teresita’s leadership responsibilities blossomed into a remarkable global service. She served two terms in General Leadership (2008–2014 and 2014–2022) in Rome, becoming the 19th Superior General of the SNDdeN Congregation. Her tenure was characterized by a charismatic, spiritually grounded leadership that inspired Sisters across the world and engaged with broader networks of women religious. In Rome, she participated frequently with the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), contributing to global conversations about religious life, education, and social justice.
Her Congregational Leadership Team and Mary Johnson, SNDdeN, the 20th Superior General, have described her as a leader whose depth of spirituality and breadth of vision continue to inspire the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Her legacy lives in a Congregation that remains committed to education, empowerment, and service to the marginalized—an enduring testament to a life lived in fidelity to God and in solidarity with those who are most in need.
A Life of Courage in the Face of Adversity
Teresa’s life was not without hardship. In Chicago, she faced a painful and divisive experience within a parish community that tested her resilience and commitment to leadership, liturgy, and inclusivity. Yet even in the wake of personal and communal pain, she remained devoted to the Gospel’s call to love, justice, and reconciliation. Her response to suffering was not withdrawal but a renewed commitment to mission—an embodiment of the Catholic tradition’s insistence that love is both a grace and a vow.
Celebrating a Life of Love and Service
As the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and their collaborators continue their mission, they honor Sr. Teresita’s memory by carrying forward her gifts—her spiritual depth, her leadership, and her unshakeable dedication to education and social transformation. The Congregational Leadership Team’s statement expresses the shared gratitude of the SNDdeN family: Teresita’s “abundant gifts,” her “depth of spirituality,” and her “breadth of vision” remain an enduring source of inspiration for Sisters on five continents.
In the wake of her passing, may we honor her memory by continuing the work she loved: ensuring access to education for girls and women; standing in solidarity with the marginalized; and cultivating communities where faith, justice, and compassion are lived out in action.
Obituary: https://www.rohdefuneral.com/obituary/sr-teresita-weind-sndden
Memorial Service: https://www.youtube.com/live/ofJiTnK9f2A
