The Congregation of Notre-Dame de Sion (Congregation of Our Lady of Zion) is a Roman Catholic religious order of women founded in France in 1843 by Theodor Ratisbonne, encouraged by his brother Alphonse Ratisbonne, with the purpose of promoting the conversion of Jews to Christianity. The congregation established several educational institutions in the Holy Land, a convent and an orphanage. A mother-house was established in Paris.[1] In 1852 the Ratisbonne brothers established the Congregation of the Priests of Notre-Dame de Sion.[2] A number of other institutions were established around the world, including Our Lady of Sion School in England, and the Our Lady of Sion College in Australia.
For many years most of the sisters were teachers in Sion schools. Since the Second Vatican Council the work of the sisters has expanded and developed. Now there is a wide variety of ministries. The congregation now has sisters in 22 countries world wide.[3]
The sisterhood no longer emphasises conversion, but instead describes itself as working to improve Catholic-Jewish relations to witness to God's faithful love for the Jewish people.
One of its best-known members was Sœur Emmanuelle, (1908-2008), who worked in Istanbul and Cairo.