Grove Companions Guild

Our Grove

In our Grove at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, trees of many varieties, sizes and shapes create a place of beauty for early morning walkers and evening strollers. The Grove is a place where friends may sit and visit; where the cool waft of a summer breeze, the riotous color of autumn, the lacy green of spring or the snowy landscape of winter delights and nurtures one’s spirit. The outdoor labyrinth is located in the Grove, where individuals and groups gather for reflecting, walking and prayer.

Each and every tree plays an important part in making the Grove, creating a fitting metaphor for depicting the variety and years of friendship, prayerful support and financial gifts which our Companions share with us. Just as every tree is important, so is every donor and every gift. Donors of annual gifts root the Sisters of Providence in our ability to begin new ministries, to nourish established programs and projects and to sustain the care of our sisters who are elderly and infirm.

The sentinel-like witness of the trees in the Grove is an apt image of our unending gratitude and of the daily prayers that we Sisters of Providence offer our Companions.

Membership

Membership in The Grove Companions Guild is based on cumulative giving during a calendar year. Each giving level is represented by a species of tree that is located on the grounds of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Members of Each January, the recognition cycle begins again and continues as gifts accumulate through the twelve months of the calendar year.

Tree Designations/Giving Levels

$1-$99  — Magnolia: The rich fragrance from the large, white blossoms of the magnolia tree signals the arrival of spring and new life. Our donors share gifts that bring new life and hope to individuals and families with whom we minister.

$100-$249  — Pine: The evergreen is often suggested as a symbol of God’s eternal love. Our donors are instruments of God’s love as they partner with the Sisters of Providence to “break boundaries and create hope.”

$250-$499  — Maple: Offering thick foliage, the maple tree provides welcome shade in the summer heat and glorious color in the autumn. Our donors enable us to address a variety of needs in creative, resourceful ways and in all seasons.

$500-$999  — Tulip: The flower of the tulip tree is an artful mixture of yellow and green with an encircling orange band. Sisters of Providence donors have a beautiful and lasting effect in the lives of people in need.

$1,000-$4,999  — Oak: The wood and sturdy bark of the mighty oak tree enables a wide variety of uses. Its acorn fruit is a food staple for animals that depend on it for survival. Our donors share their resources to address both material and spiritual hunger.

$5,000-$9,999  — Ginkgo: The hardy ginkgo tree is resistent to smoke, dust, ice, insects and disease. Our donors make a difference in the lives of people beset by life-draining circumstances and situations, lives in need of hope and healing.

$10,000 — Linden: Congregation tradition tells us that Mother Theodore brought a linden tree, with its heart-shaped leaves, with her when she came from France in 1840. Our benefactors give from their hearts to provide financial resources for our life and mission.

Joining The Grove Companions Guild

To become a member of The Grove Companions Guild, you can make an online gift to the Sisters of Providence by using our secure online donation form or send your gift to:

Office of Congregational Advancement
1 Sisters of Providence
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Your gift will automatically enroll you in the program.