Notre Dame Associates share a common charism, to meet the unmet needs of others. Associates participate in prayer, community and service with the Notre Dame Sisters.

Associates have been an energizing part of the Non-violence Committee, which has met since 2000 to study the problem of violence. The response of the Notre Dame community to domestic violence is the Safe Home project, in which Associates as well as Sisters work to support transitional housing for women and children.

Notre Dame Associates participated in a garage sale in the spring of 2002 to raise money for ministries. Associates and Sisters donated furniture, sports equipment and much more for the sale, while Sr. Karen and her helpers emptied the Motherhouse of non-essential furniture and supplies. The Sisters believe that living simply means that material goods should be placed where they would be best used immediately. The Sisters keep only the personal possessions that they need, and nothing extra. This insures that they are not keeping any material goods out of the hands of those whose need is greater than theirs.
Notre Dame Associates not only donated goods, many also staffed the sale and helped clean up afterward. Through the efforts of the Sisters, Associates and friends, the garage sale raised money to directly support the ministries of the Sisters. This commitment to service of the poor is part of the way that the Sisters and the Notre Dame Associates join to live out the call of the Notre Dame Sisters, to meet the unmet needs of others.