Karolina Gerhardinger was a German Roman Catholic nun and founder of the Institute of the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame. She was born on June 20, 1797, in Bavaria, Germany, as the eldest of six children of a farmer and his wife.
As a child, Gerhardinger received a basic education from her mother and then worked on the family farm. At the age of 16, she entered a school run by the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame in Munich, where she received an education that inspired her to become a teacher herself. In 1816, she joined the order and became a nun.
Gerhardinger quickly gained recognition for her teaching skills and was appointed to lead a new school in Neunburg vorm Wald in Bavaria. She dedicated herself to the education of girls and young women, who had limited access to education at the time. In 1833, Gerhardinger founded the Institute of the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame to train other teachers and provide education to more children.
The order grew rapidly and expanded to other parts of Germany, as well as to other countries, including North America. Gerhardinger served as the order's superior general until her death in 1879.
Throughout her life, Gerhardinger was known for her dedication to education and her commitment to social justice. She was a tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized, and she worked to improve the lives of women and girls through education.
In recognition of her contributions, Gerhardinger was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985. She is remembered today as a pioneer in the field of education and as a champion of social justice.