Celebrations, decisions, being community and the future: SP General Chapter 2016

Sisters of Providence from near and far gathered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, June 26-July 5 for the Sisters of Providence General Chapter. At the General Chapter sisters come together to assess the state of the Congregation. They agree on a direction for the next five years and elect a new leadership team. The sisters also come together to be community, to pray together, to grapple with issues, to discern together, to have fun, to be renewed and to allow the guiding wisdom of the Holy Spirit to work in them. We hope you enjoy this array of photos from the Sisters of Providence General Chapter 2016.

Sister Janice Smith (left) and Sister Patty Fillenwarth during table discussion time. (photo by Amy Miranda)

From left Sisters Mary Kay Duffy, Therese Guerin Sullivan and Helen Therese Conway engage in table discussion. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Chapter delegates (voting members) are called forward to light a candle during the opening ritual for Chapter. Here Sisters Jo Paolinelli and Andre Panepinto place their lit candles among those representing other sister delegates. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Su-Hsin Huang places her candle during the opening ritual. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters Norene Wu and Sophia Chen, home at the Woods from their mission in Taiwan, engage in table discussion. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters and associates view a touching memorial video of all sisters and associates who have died in the past year. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Providence Associates greet sisters and associates as they arrive at an evening meal social time for sisters and associates. Here Sister Mary Maxine Teipen speaks with Providence Associates. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Engaging table conversation between sisters and associates. From left Sisters Lucy Lechner and Cathy Campbell. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Loretta Picucci during a prayer time. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters Lawrence Ann Liston and Helen Therese Conway during a prayer time. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Kay Manley and the display of candle light during the opening ritual for Chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters Jean Fuqua and Katherine Francis French light their candles as Chapter delegates at the opening ritual for the Chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Enjoyable table discussion among sisters and associates. From left in red, Providence Associate Jude Magers, Sisters Anji Fan and Jo Paolinelli. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Janice Ostrowski excitedly greets a sister she has not seen in a while. (photo by Amy Miranda)

The current general council laugh at a distracting push cart that sounds like a dog barking during an address from the current council during the early part of chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

This was a special General Chapter. It was the first one that Providence Associates were invited to be present and join discussions for the first two days of the chapter. Here from from left are: Providence Associate Paul Salstrom, Sister Marian Brady, Providence Associate Father Dan Hopcus, Sisters Marianne Ridgell, Arlene Knarzer, Joanne Golding and Lucy Nolan. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Providence Associate Assistant Director Debbie Dillow and Director Sister Diane Mason present to sisters on the Providence Associate relationship during the first General Chapter in history where Providence Associates were present for some of the chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

General Superior Sister Denise Wilkinson in a prayer moment during the opening ritual for Chapter 2016. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Dawn Tomaszewski lights her candle as a chapter delegate during the opening ritual. At the end of the chapter she would be elected the next general superior. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters Carole Kimes and Mary Frances Keusal light their candles as chapter delegates during the opening ritual. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Providence Associates lead a lively song and dance for the sisters during the social supper with the sisters and associates. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Marian Brady places her candle as a chapter delegate during the opening ritual. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Editha Ben captures a video of the Providence Associates’ song and dance during the social supper. (photo by Amy Miranda)

General Superior Sister Denise Wilkinson opens the chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Carol Meyers greets another sister before the official opening of chapter. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters spend some time catching up and getting to know one another better during the opening ceremony. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters spend some time catching up and getting to know one another better during the opening ceremony. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters Anji Fan and Rose Virginia Eichman light their candles as chapter delegates as Sister Patty Fillenwarth waits to light hers. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sisters in initial formation, from left, Sisters Hannah Corbin, Tracey Horan and Arrianne Whittaker, take a bike ride in the evening after a long day at chapter. (photo by Sister Editha Ben)

Providence Associates lead a lively song and dance during the supper social with the sistesrs. (photo by Amy Miranda)

Sister Ann Sullivan (left) with Sister Denise Wilkinson. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Newly re-elected General Officer Sister Jenny Howard is greeted by Sister Rita Ann Wade. (photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Newly re-elected General Vicar Sister Lisa Stallings with Sister Marilyn Baker (photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Sister Editha Ben (left), Sister Delan Ma (center) and Sister Dawn Tomaszewski. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Sisters Jeremy Gallet and Peggy Lynch with newly elected General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski. (photo by Joni Luna)

Newly elected General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski with Sister Editha Ben. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Sister Kathleen Bernadette Smith (left) with Sister Florence Norton. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Newly re-elected vicar Sister Lisa Stallings is greeted by Sister Marilyn Herber. (photo by Joni Luna)

Sister Paula Modaff (right) congratulates newly re-elected General Officer Sister Jenny Howard. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Sisters of Providence who were elected as General Officers during the 2016 General Chapter included (from left) Sister Mary Beth Klingel, Sister Jeneen Howard, Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp, Sister Dawn Tomaszewski (who will minister as General Superior) and Sister Lisa Stallings. (Photo by Sister Joni Luna)

Sister Barbara Ann Bluntzer at St. Joseph Lake during a break in chapter. (Photo by Sister Evelyn Ovalles)

Sister Denise Wilkinson (from left), Sister Ann Margaret O’Hara, Sister Dawn Tomaszewski and Sister Nancy Nolan, represent the current, past and future general superiors. (Photo by Sister Evelyn Ovalles)

Sisters (from left) Jeneen Howard, Dina Bato and Arrianne Whittaker during General Chapter.

Sister Lisa Stallings (left) with Sister Denise Wilkinson. (Photo by Sister Evelyn Ovalles)

From left, Sisters Sue Paweski, Patty Wallace, Regina Gallo, Jane Iannaccone and Theresa Ann Boland perform a skit. (photo by Sister Evelyn Ovalles)

Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp (left) chats with Sister Dawn Tomaszewski (center) and Sister Pamela Pauloski. (Photo by Sister Evelyn Ovalles)

The Sisters of Providence concluded the 2016 General Chapter with a final blessing of one another during the Mass. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Denise Wilkinson hugs Sister Rita Clare Gerardot during the sign of peace at the concluding Mass. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sisters Lucy Nolan and Mary Fran Keusal at the closing Mass. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Su-Hsin Huang (left), Sister Paula Damiano (center) and Sister Anna Fan. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Anne Therese Falkenstein (left), Sister Jane Iannaccone (center) and Sister Theresa Ann Boland. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Anji Fan (left) with Sister Norene Wu. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Tracey Horan (back) has a discussion with Sister Editha Ben (right), as Sister Becky Keller (front) and Sister Margaret Quinlan (left) listen. (photo by Jason Moon)

Sisters discuss justice issues (photo by Jason Moon)

Chapter prayer environment includes statue of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin (photo by Jason Moon)

Poster depicting a Chapter theme (photo by Jason Moon)

Sisters discuss justice issues (photo by Jason Moon)

Sister Joseph Fillenwarth during chapter (photo by Jason Moon)