Emmanuel College Celebrates Building the Common Good at Founders’ Week 2026

Emmanuel College paid homage to far-reaching legacies of community, learning, and faith through its annual Founders’ Week celebration from Feb. 2nd-5th.

Founders’ Week commemorates both the founding of Emmanuel in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) and the establishment of the SNDdeN by St. Julie Billiart on Feb. 2, 1804.  

The weeklong celebration engaged students, faculty, staff, alumni, and many of the Sisters in prayer, thoughtful discussion, and community events, with an overarching theme of “Building the Common Good.” 

The week culminated with a SNDdeN panel discussion on Feb. 5th in the Daley Library Lecture Hall, where Emmanuel President Dr. Beth Ross said the vision of St. Julie remains radiant more than 200 years later, both at Emmanuel and within the communities touched by the Sisters. 

“Our 2026 Founders’ Week is exploring the theme of building the common good,” said Dr. Ross. “Clearly, the Sisters have been doing exactly that, from 1804, right up to the present moment. Responding in tangible ways to the critical needs of our time and place…they understand that human needs are not only material in nature, but spiritual as well. Accordingly, across their ministries, they not only empower people for lives of dignity and purpose, they also serve as powerful channels of God's goodness and transforming grace.”

The panel featured Sr. Patricia O’Brien, who spoke of how the Sisters prioritize their efforts across five continents to both mitigate poverty and promote systemic change. Sr. Liane Delsuc spoke of her ongoing efforts to support refugees and asylum seekers in Arizona and Texas. Sr. Patricia Butler ’69 told of her work to alleviate food insecurity locally in Worcester, Mass.

In introducing the Sisters, Emmanuel Vice President of Mission & Ministry Fr. Federico Cinocca lauded the SNDdeN for their commitment to education, justice, and peace.  

“For the Sisters, justice has never been simply an abstract concept, it has been taking shape through concrete decisions on where to serve and how to respond faithfully to the needs of the times,” said Fr. Federico. “Their lives remind us that building the common good is not a one-time effort, but a lifelong practice; one that continues to shape Emmanuel College and invites all of us to live our mission more fully.” 

A Legacy of Teaching and Learning 

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are guided by the charism of making known God’s goodness, especially for those most in need. St. Julie considered teaching “the greatest work on Earth” and founded schools for disadvantaged children to teach them what they need to know for life.

Emmanuel’s place in that tradition was highlighted by Campus Minister Sofia Estrada-Hannigan at a Founders’ Week luncheon for staff and faculty on Feb. 3rd. 

“From the everyday work of sitting with students when they’re going through something, to helping them with classes, encouraging their voices and vision, to celebrating with them as they got that internship, job…or whenever they tried something new in Boston—we are part of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur tradition,” said Estrada-Hannigan. 

The luncheon also included perspectives on Emmanuel’s place in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition from Associate Professor of Theology & Religious Studies Dr. Brianne Jacobs. She described the tradition as a deep commitment to rigorous inquiry on important questions, saying it’s always possible to learn more about God through understanding the world better. 

“We understand God as a mystery, and have faith that the more we learn, the closer we’re going to be to God,” said Dr. Jacobs. “Knowledge does not weaken our faith, it strengthens it.”

The Ongoing Legacy of Sr. Dorothy Stang 

Another keynote event was the annual Sr. Dorothy Stang Lecture, which honors the life and legacy of Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN. 

Sr. Dorothy spent nearly four decades in Brazil, working with people who live in the rainforest to defend it from ranchers and deforestation. She was martyred in 2005, and last year became the first American woman to be honored at the Sanctuary for New Martyrs in Rome’s Basilica of St. Bartholomew. 

The 2026 Stang lecture featured Suzanne Shanley and Jeanelle Wheeler from the Agape Community, a lay Christian community that takes an interfaith approach to promoting peace and preserving the environment. Shanley, who co-founded the community- expressed deep admiration for Sr. Dorothy’s courage, commitment to non-violence, and understanding that community is key to resiliency.

“Sr. Dorothy knew that it’s all about networks,” said Shanely. “It’s all about those webs of relationships. She did not just take a stand on her own, she was plugged into a network of organizers and impacted communities.” 

The speakers also advised that there are many ways to get involved. Examples included volunteering for local nonprofits and reducing environmental impacts by choosing to eat less meat. 

Among the students attending the lecture was Malia Nguyen ’27. As president of the Emmanuel 1804 Society she was very active in Founders’ Week, both at the events and behind the scenes. She described it as a great celebration of legacy and how Emmanuel students can continue it. 

“With Founders’ Week, we are respecting and recognizing the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur that founded our school, and we are also recognizing the role that we play as current students,” said Nguyen.