Notre Dame Tabernacle Society

The Association of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and of work for poor Churches was founded at Brussels in 1848 by Anne de Meeus. The purpose of the Association was to make and give Mass vestments, stoles, altar linens and even Mass vessels to poor missions and parishes for the enhancement of the Eucharistic celebration. By 1851 the Association received the approval of the Bishops of Belgium. Anne de Meeus had already received workroom space from the Sisters of Notre Dame for the women who joined her in making the vestments. Because of the Sisters involvement the Association came to be known as The Notre Dame Tabernacle Society. In 1853 the society became an Arch Confraternity for Belgium, but quickly spread to nearby countries where it met similar needs for poor churches and received similar privileges and blessings. In 1863 Pius IX granted the mother-society in Brussels the right to affiliate confraternities throughout the world. In 1881 Leo XIII approved the transfer of the Arch Confraternity to Rome, where it is a Vatican organization to this day.

In 1866, Sister Superior Julia, a Notre Dame Sister, came to the United States and made the first foundation of the Notre Dame Tabernacle Society at the Convent of West Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Soon it spread to various Notre Dame Houses throughout the country. In 1942 Mrs. Alma Stuhlmǜeller founded the Notre Dame Tabernacle Society of Hamilton, Ohio. She heard of the Notre Dame Sisters' work of making vestments at their high school in Dayton, Ohio, the then Julienne High School. She went to Dayton and met with the Sisters of Notre Dame, who taught her how to make Mass vestments. A small group of women in Hamilton joined Alma in making vestments, which they donated to poor priests and parish missions, especially the Glenmary Home Missions. Sister Agnes Paula, a Notre Dame Sister, invited the women to use the home economics classroom of Notre Dame High School in Hamilton which had sewing machines already in it. They met every Tuesday afternoon and gradually more women came to sew. They continued this arrangement until Notre Dame High School closed in 1966. After the closing the Society met in the Convent until the Sisters of Notre Dame left the Hamilton area. The women then continued their work in their own residences until they were offered a work area at St. Peter in Chains Church in Hamilton, Ohio.

In 2003, the Society moved into the home of Mark and Joan Krabbe, located near Queen of Peace Church, Hamilton, Ohio. The making of vestments increased and so did the requests for vestments, sacred vessels, and rosaries from more and more missionaries, especially those in poor mission areas of third world countries. In 2006, the Society moved to a new home of Mark and Joan Krabbe located close to their old home, and the women who sew the vestments, and pack them with Mass kits, rosaries, and religious articles meet there every Tuesday.

It was through the efforts of Mrs.Stuhlmueller that the organization was approved by Rome and affiliated with the Arch Confraternity of Rome. From the very beginnings the Notre Dame Tabernacle Society has been supported by generous members who commit themselves to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and make donations of time and money to provide Mass Vestments, Mass Kits, and Religious Articles to poor missionary priests and churches throughout the world. Since the organization is affiliated with Rome, the members receive all the blessing of the Arch Confraternity and share in all the Masses and prayers of the Tabernacle Societies throughout the world, and the special prayers and Masses of the missionaries who are recipients of the vestments and rosaries. The living and deceased members of the Hamilton Notre Dame Tabernacle Society share in a Mass offered monthly for them in addition to the spiritual benefits of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.