Celebrate 2016 with the SPs!

View a Christmas video message from General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, SP, where she expresses the Congregation’s gratitude for the many blessings it has had in 2016. She also assures people of the Congregation’s prayers for peace and non-violence this holiday season.

Christmas 2016 letter (also downloadable as a PDF)

What a wonderful year this has been for our Providence family!

As I write, I pause to count my blessings as a Sister of Providence. I especially include the many times the gifts of our donors assisted us in furthering our mission. Thank you.

Looking back at 2016, a great memory for me and all of the sisters was our General Chapter meeting. Sisters from all over the United States and Taiwan gathered together to reconnect and reaffirm our commitment to our mission. Our Providence Associates were also with us for several days.  This is the time, too, that we elect our new general officers. I am privileged to serve as the new General Superior, and assure you that our mission and dedication to our ministries remain strong and unwavering. Our leadership team is both honored and challenged to be walking in the footsteps of our foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

We also offer our deepest appreciation to Sister Denise Wilkinson who served in Congregation leadership with great love and integrity for 15 years.

Golden jubilees were celebrated by Sisters Cathy Campbell, Mary Jo Piccione and Linda Thompson. Sister My Huong Pham marked her silver jubilee. Cause for celebration indeed! Their gifts continue to touch people’s lives on a daily basis as a child advocate, nurse, hospital chaplain and a minister of care with those in a nursing home setting.

The White Violet Center for Eco-Justice celebrated 20 years of teaching, caring and inspiring for all creation. This ministry was selected as a west-central Hoosier Green Light Award recipient by Sustainable Indiana 2016, an Earth Charter Indiana initiative. Also during the ceremony, White Violet Center was inducted into the Bicentennial Green Legacy Hall of Fame. White Violet Center remains strong in our mission to teach sustainable living and best practices for our environment.

The leadership team, from left: General Officer/Vicar Sister Lisa Stallings, General Officer Sister Jeanette Hagelskamp, General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski and General Officers Sister Mary Beth Klingel and Sister Jenny Howard.

Sister Joni Luna professed her first vows as a Sister of Providence on June 26. Sister Joni is from San Antonio, Texas. She currently ministers as the athletic director and physical education/religion teacher at Saint Patrick school in Terre Haute, Indiana.

We welcomed Postulant Emily TeKolste of Indianapolis, Indiana, who entered the Sisters of Providence September 7, 2016.  She joins eight other women in the initial formation in our community.

In 2016 our Providential God called 10 daughters of Mother Theodore home. We offer prayers for Sisters Regina Therese Shaughnessy, Marilyn Rose Ginder, Amata Dugan, Mary Loyola Bender, Michael Ellen Green, Ann Kevin O’Connor, Marilyn Therese Lipps, Concetta Banez, Mary Esther Lane and Marian Ruth Johnson. We give thanks for these sisters as their work in life bears fruit for all of us tomorrow.

Our Providence Associate Relationship continues to grow. We have 256 associates journeying collaboratively with us to bring hope, mercy and justice to our world. Next year the Providence Associate Relationship will celebrate its 10 year anniversary.

Providence Spirituality & Conference Center continues to welcome many visitors and pilgrims who come seeking healing and renewal through the intercession of our foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. I always enjoy meeting new people, showing them our Woods, especially Mother Theodore’s shrine, and sharing stories of hope and faith.

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, we completed our campaign to renovate the bell tower of the Church of the Immaculate Conception and created a disability entrance for the church and the shrine.  Your generosity enabled us to surpass our goals and make much needed improvements in halls adjoining the church.

This year also marks Saint Mother Theodore’s 10th Anniversary as a Saint of God. We celebrated her feast day on Monday, October 3. How blessed we are that her spirit continues to inspire and guide us.

You, too, are a blessing. As part of our Providence family, you are an essential part of all our work. You are a part of our outreach, both great and small. You help us change lives through your presence, your prayers and your gifts. You help us bring love and hope to those who have little or none. You join us as we strengthen our world one challenge, one community and one person at a time.

The sisters pray daily in gratitude for you and for your needs. You and your loved ones will be remembered in a special novena of Masses during the Christmas season.

As I close my reflection on the blessings of this year I ask you to please keep all of our sisters, Providence Associates, staff and volunteers in your prayers throughout the New Year.

Lovingly in Providence,

Sister Dawn Tomaszewski

General Superior

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P.S. All gifts, great and small, can make a difference for those served by the mission and ministries of the Sisters of Providence. Donate today …