Last weekend brought nearly 70 Providence Associates and Sisters of Providence together for the Providence Associate spring retreat at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Those on retreat took time away for rest, reflection, prayer and conversation. They reconnected with God, each other, sisters at the Woods, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, Earth and themselves. Enjoy these photos from the weekend retreat!
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A bowl of water and some spring flowers were some of the symbols and decoration for the Friday retreat session.
Retreat leader Providence Associate Diann Neu facilitates as gathered Providence Associates and Sisters of Providence have conversations at their tables.
Providence Associate Jane Fischer bows to God present in others gathered at the retreat.
Providence Associate Candidate Laura Dudkowski during prayer.
Providence Associates Jane Fischer and Diann Neu and Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp lead a song during the retreat.
Retreat leader Sister Mary Montgomery facilitates a reflective moment during the retreat.
Sister Joni Luna prays with the gathered Providence Associates on Friday night at the retreat.
Saint Mother Theodore Guerin statue against the backdrop of the log cabin chapel, the first place that Mother Theodore and her companions visited when arriving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840.
Providence Associate Jen Drake, center, joins others on the retreat in a prayer time.
Ready to lead those on the retreat to interesting break out sessions to meet sisters, learn about ministries, even rake leaves at St. Joseph’s lake are, from left: Providence Associate Ezra Meadors and Sisters Joseph Fillenwarth, Mary Montgomery, Joan Matthews, Maureen Abbott, Jean Fuqua, Rita Clare Gerardot, My Huong Pham and Adele Beacham.
Sister Joan Matthews at left plays the piano and leads a sing along with Providence Associates during one of Saturday’s breakout sessions.
Clockwise from top, Providence Associates Cathy Allen, Teresa Clark and Sara Bennett visit with Sister Rita Clare Gerardot, at left, during one of the breakout sessions.
Sister Jody O’Neil visits with Providence Associates in her art studio at Saint Mary-of-Woods as one of the Saturday breakout sessions.
Providence Associate and White Violet Center for Eco-Justice Intern Ezra Meadors shows the high tunnel to the group of Providence Associates and Sisters of Providence who chose to tour White Violet Center for Eco-Justice during the breakout session.
Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates who chose to tour and learn about the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice during their breakout session learn about seedlings in the greenhouse from Providence Associate and White Violet Center Intern Ezra Meadors, second from right. From left are: Providence Associate Betty Sloan, Sister Mary Moloney, Providence Associate Debra Prieto, Ezra and Sister Ellen Kehoe.
Sister Joan Matthews plays the piano and sings with the breakout session that got together and made music.
Visiting retired sisters in Lourdes Hall was one breakout session. From left are Providence Associate Candidate Eileen Horan, Sisters Mary Montgomery, Mary Ryan, Joyce Brophy and Providence Associate Rosaline Secrest.
Providence Associate Sara Bennett joins others at her table in prayer.
Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates gathered dip their hands into a bowl of water and bless themselves.
It was a brisk and beautiful early spring weekend for the Providence Associate spring retreat. Most of the activities took place in and around Providence Hall.
Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates on retreat, including Providence Associate Yvonne Conniff, center, used hand motion, song and togetherness to enter more deeply into their prayer during the retreat.
You never know what fun you will meet in the hallways at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. From left Providence Associate Candidate Cynthia Montgomery and Associate Joanna Dailey chat with Sister Barbara Doherty who demonstrates a little jig for them.
From back left, Providence Associates Sandra Hartlieb and Elizabeth Barkley teach those gathered for the retreat hand gestures to go with song to be used during the procession to the evening vigil at the shrine.
Retreat leader and Providence Associate Diann Neu and Providence Associate Sandra Hartlieb lead the retreatants on a pilgrimage walk through the halls of Providence Hall to the shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin for the Saturday evening vigil.
Sister Mary Montgomery and Providence Associate Elizabeth Barkley lead the procession to the shrine.
Providence Associates and sisters keep vigil with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin at her shrine on Saturday night.
Providence Associates and sisters gathered for the Saturday evening vigil at the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin during the retreat.
The chapel room of the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin lit by candlelight for the vigil with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin during the Providence Associate retreat.
Walk
The Together in Mission banner at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice represents the Sisters of Providence, their ministries and the Providence Associates.
At White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, form left, Sister Ellen Kehoe, Providence Associates Ezra Meadors and Debra Prieto, Sister Mary Moloney and Providence Associate Betty Sloan.
Loved looking at the photos and hearing about the retreat.
Great job as always Amy. Thanks for posting these.
Beautiful pictures, Amy!
Sister Mary
Amy,
Beautiful pictures. I journeyed with the PAs as I looked at the photos. Thank you.
Amy, you have captured the spirit of our retreat with your photos. The photo of the statue of Saint Moher Theodore at night is especially beautiful. Thank you!