Notre Dame de Sion High School - Sionian Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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Uhe Hi ton oft Sion In 1841 Alphonse Ratisbonne, a young man of a distinguished Jewish family, under- took a voyage in search of health and pleasure. In Rome, he met an old friend, a very devout Catholic. To satisfy the whim of his friend's little girl, he consented to wear the Miraculous Medal and to recite the Memorare. One day while waiting outside the Church of St. Andrea deile Fratte, for a friend, who was making arrangements for a funeral, Alphonse decided to enter. No words can better describe this man's sudden and miraculous conversion, from an obdurate agnostic to a devout Catholic, than his own. I saw the Virgin Mary; she beckoned me to my knees. She appeared standing on the altar, tall, glorious, full of majesty and sweetness. She spoke not a word, but I understood all. By a special grace from God, Alphonse knew all the truths of the Faith and in two weeks he was baptized. In thanksgiving he offered himself to God and became a priest. He joined his brother Theodore and together they began the work of prayer and sacrifice for their people. They established schools for young Jewish Catechumens and finally as their labor grew with their need for more helpers, the Congregation of Notre Dame de Sion was founded. Now there are convents of Notre Dame de Sion all over the world. In 1912, Mfere Marie Theotime came to Kansas City with six sisters. They obtained a small home on Benton Boulevard and moved successively to Prospect, Warwick and Armour Boulevard. In 1926 our own Notre Mere Irene laid the plans for for the present Sion Hill , which was completed in 1928. M6re Irene was called back to Europe in 1938 and was succeeded by Mfere Emmanuel, whom we always will dearly remember. After Mfere Emmanuel's death Mfere Irene returned to Kansas City as Superior in 1945 and has worked untiringly for the expansion of Sion in our country. Since September, 1951, the United States counts one more Sion, St. Bernadette's parochial school in Dearborn, Michigan. t Our Notre Mbre Claudia, Superior of Sion and Provincial of the United States, is looking toward further expansion with the building of a new High School. Sion continues to grow and flourish. 3 Founders of Sion

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