St. Julie’s Day Celebration – 10th July 2026

Sophia High School celebrated the Feast of St. Julie Billiart, the beloved founder and spiritual inspiration of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, on 10 July 2026 with a meaningful and inspiring assembly centered on the theme “One Woman. One Dream. Millions of Lives.”

The celebration was graced by Sr. Mary Chetana, S.N.D., Provincial Superior of the Visitation Province, as the Chief Guest. Also present were Sr. Priscilla, Secretary of the School, Sr. Alpana, Principal, Sr. Tanuja, Sr. Madhuja, Sr. Pushpa, the Sisters of Notre Dame, members of the Parent- Teachers Association, teachers, students, and invited guests. The program commenced with a warm welcome, followed by the felicitation of the Sisters with sunflowers, symbolizing St. Julie’s message of simplicity and unwavering trust in God. A floral tribute was offered to St. Julie Billiart, honoring her enduring legacy.

Students then presented a brief introduction to the life and mission of St. Julie, highlighting her remarkable courage, steadfast faith especially for girls. The assembly continued with a prayer service that included the opening prayer, Scripture reading from the Book of Proverbs, special intentions, and a reflective choir presentation, inviting the gathering to embrace the values St. Julie cherished.

A vibrant dance performance to “A Million Dreams” beautifully portrayed St. Julie’s vision of transforming lives through education. The highlight of the program was a thought-provoking skit imagining a conversation between St. Julie and today’s Generation Z. Through engaging dialogue, students explored timeless themes such as faith, courage, education, technology, resilience, compassion, and purpose, demonstrating how St. Julie’s teachings remain deeply relevant in the modern world. This was followed by a powerful dance performance to “Speechless”, celebrating courage, strength, and finding one’s voice.

The program concluded with a moving narration tracing the remarkable journey of the Sisters of Notre Dame across the world, reminding everyone that one woman’s dream continues to touch millions of lives through education, pastoral ministry, and compassionate service. The choir enriched the celebration with inspiring musical presentations throughout the program, including the Julie Psalm, a Thanksgiving hymn, and the closing hymn, Living Hope. The gathering was then blessed with an inspiring address by the Chief Guest, Sr. Mary Chetana, S.N.D., whose reflections on St. Julie’s charism encouraged everyone to continue living lives rooted in faith, service, and hope.

A special moment of the celebration was the felicitation of Sr. Mary Chetana on the occasion of her Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years of dedicated missionary service. A commemorative video paid tribute to her inspiring leadership, unwavering commitment to the Notre Dame mission, and selfless service. She was honored with a shawl, a plant, a silver jubilee card and a token of appreciation, followed by a heartfelt Jubilee song presented by the Sophia Chorale.

The celebration concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, the Sisters of Notre Dame, the school leadership, the Parent- Teachers Association, teachers, students, and all those who contributed to the success of the program, including the music department, media team, teaching staff, technical support staff, and maintenance team.

The St. Julie’s Day celebration was a fitting tribute to the life and mission of the Smiling Saint. It reminded the Sophia family that education is a powerful instrument of transformation and that, through faith, compassion, courage, and service, each individual can continue to make known the goodness of God, just as St. Julie envisioned over two centuries ago.