On May 22–23, 2026, the Santa Maria Foundation celebrated its 70th anniversary in Purbalingga, the origin of the Sisters of Notre Dame’s educational ministry in Indonesia. This milestone paid tribute to the steadfast mission pioneered by missionary sisters from the Netherlands.
Unified by the theme “Rooted in Values, Growing through Learning, Bearing Fruit for Others,” the Santa Maria Foundation family—overseeing nine educational institutions—came together in gratitude. Seminars, history reflections, performances, and communal activities highlighted the Foundation’s enduring impact on the community.
A Thanksgiving Mass, led by Father FX. Handy Kristian Adiputra was the focal point of the celebration. His homily emphasized gratitude for the Foundation’s 70 years of growth and the lasting fruits of its educational mission—demonstrated by alumni serving as priests and everyday acts of love that become blessings to many.
During the celebration, a new auditorium and dormitory were blessed. Sister Maria Elfrida, SND, Chair of the Foundation, stated that these facilities support Santa Maria’s commitment to forming not just academically strong, but also wise and value-driven generations, serving both the Church and the community.
This anniversary was a time to reflect on the legacy entrusted by the Sisters of Notre Dame and to reaffirm the Foundation’s commitment to education rooted in Christian values, dedicated to serving others and shaping character, hallmarks of Notre Dame.
