Sister Denise Wilkinson: A Reflection

Sister Denise Wilkinson (front) with Sister Nancy Reynolds (back, from left) Sister Paula Damiano, Sister Marsha Speth and Sister Jane Marie Osterholt (RIP) in a photo from 2011 when the General Council got locked in a room inside Owens Hall.

For 15 years, Sister Denise Wilkinson has served the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence as vicar/councilor (2001-2006) and as general superior (2006-2016). Sister Denise will complete her second term as general superior with the installation of recently elected officers on Sept. 10.

In the 10 years Sister Denise was general superior, many milestones occurred. Sister Denise would be the first to acknowledge the councilors who served with her for all that has been achieved: (first term) Sisters Marsha Speth (vicar/councilor), Jane Marie Osterholt (RIP), Nancy Reynolds, Marie McCarthy and Paula Damiano, and; (second term) Sisters Lisa Stallings (vicar/councilor), Jenny Howard, Mary Beth Klingel and Dawn Tomaszewski. She would also want to recognize the incredible efforts, dedication and fidelity of departments, ministries, programs, staffs, individual sisters and generous benefactors.

Highlights of her 10 years as general superior include the following:

Celebratory Events

• Mother Theodore Guerin canonized a saint (2006),
• First group of Providence Associates commissioned (2007; Volunteer Services program established (2010),
• Saint Mother Theodore Guerin outdoor statue installed (2009),
• Year of the River, beginning of monthly Taizé prayer services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods open to the public (2013),
• 175th Anniversary Year, beginning with the opening of the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin shrine (2014-2015);

Capital Improvements

• Renovation of Providence Hall (2010),
• Replica of Log Cabin Chapel erected (2012),
• Renovation of Providence Spirituality and Conference Center and Linden Leaf Gifts (2014),
• Completion of permanent shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin (2014),
• Re-location of National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence to the main vestibule in the Church of the Immaculate Conception (2014),
• Woods Day Care Pre-School facility repurposed as Sisters of Providence Administration Building (2015),
• Church of the Immaculate Conception bell tower refurbished; associated church projects completed (2016);

Other Noteworthy Events

• Providence Cristo Rey High School opens in Indianapolis (2007),
• Apostolic Visitation visitors at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2010); process concluded by Vatican (2015),
• Significantly increased programming at Providence Spirituality and Conference Center and White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (2011 ff.),
• Sponsored institutions/ministry assessment process; subsequent decisions (2012 ff.),
• Introduced livestream broadcasts of communication nights and wake services (2013),
• Invited Providence Associates to attend some sessions of the Sisters of Providence annual meetings and of the General Chapter (2014),
• Providence Health Care attains Medicare certification (2013) and admits lay persons for short-term rehabilitation and therapy, and later for long-term care (2015),
• National Religious Retirement Office consultants engaged for long range planning to assess, property, buildings and operations; resulted in decommissioning of Owens Hall and major decisions toward sustainability in operations (2015),
• Established Justice Coordinating Commission (2016),
• Mission Integration program established for staffs of sponsored institutions and ministries (2016),
• Approved of co-ed at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to begin in 2015-2016), and
• Land Ethic adopted (2012) and implemented in subsequent years.

Sister Denise Wilkinson

Achievements, milestones and accomplishments are all wonderful to remember and hold dear, but it is the person of Sister Denise Wilkinson that has endeared her to so many through the years, regardless of her ministry, or place of ministry. To say she will be missed at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, where she has ministered so many times over so many years, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and for the Congregation, is an understatement!

She has been a wonderful mentor, modeling so well a welcoming presence, graciousness and sensitivity to others that we have come to love about her. She attends to each person and makes each one feel special. Her sense of humor is unique and her one-liners easily catch one off guard. You might figure out what she really said hours later or maybe the next day, if you’re lucky!

As Sister Denise ends this portion of her journey, we hope she takes with her the profound gratitude and prayerful support of sisters, Providence Associates, staff, colleagues, all partners in our mission and her many friends.

May all the blessings that Providence can bestow find their way to her, wherever she may be, on her much-deserved sabbatical journey next year!

Below is a video celebrating Sister Denise!