The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are a community of vowed Catholic women religious. Inspired by our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, we are passionate about our lives of prayer, education, service and advocacy.
Reconnect or find new opportunities with the Providence Community. Volunteer in one of our many ministries, be an intern on the farm, explore job opportunities or reminisce about your alma mater.
Live joyfully! Single, Catholic women ages 18-42 are invited to explore a fulfilling life as a Sister of Providence. All women and men of faith are invited to join the family of Providence as Providence Associates.
Jessica Vitente’s journey to the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, included God tugging at her heart in “many ways.”
“The more I ran away from exploring the idea of becoming a religious sister, the more I was not at peace,” Jessica said. “The moment I gave God the consent to work with me and through me is the moment I realized I am where I am supposed to be.”
Jessica, 34 and a native of Pomona, California, is now at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. On Monday, Sept., 10, she entered the Sisters of Providence Congregation as a postulant.
Jessica graduated from Mount San Antonio College with an associate’s degree in accounting and California State University with a bachelor’s degree in human development. Before coming to the Sisters of Providence, she worked for a Jewish family-owned business for seven-plus years, starting in customer service and ending in management.
In 2015, Jessica first became aware of the Sisters of Providence at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, California. During that year, the Congregation’s 175th, she attended her first Come and See retreat, where she had an opportunity to meet many Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates. She also learned about the Congregation’s foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.
During her entrance ceremony to the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana on Sept. 10, Jessica Vitente, center, was welcomed with keys to her new home. At left is Sister Jeanette Lucinio and at right is Sisters of Providence General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski.
“I have attended three Come and See retreats with the Sisters of Providence,” Jessica said, “but that was my first and I was touched and inspired by the women in initial formation and the many sisters who responded to a calling that is bigger and greater than themselves with such grace and love. It’s radical!”
Jessica said the signs that she was destined to become a Sister of Providence have been glaring, one being a meeting she had with a good friend.
“She was in the Midwest and she visited three churches and prayed for me at one of them,” Jessica said. “I asked where she went and she said she visited the Cathedral in Chicago then she visited a shrine in Indiana.
“She said, ‘I believe it was called Saint Mary-of …,’ I got so excited and had to finish the sentence for her. She then excitedly said, ‘Yes, I visited Saint Mother Theodore’s shrine. There were prayer cards and I thought of you.’ That was a strong sign that I should dig deeper.”
Jessica said that in addition to her three retreats at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she met monthly with Sister of Providence Jeanette Lucinio who was her discernment guide and remained in contact with the sisters’ vocation director throughout her entire discernment process before entering. She has also maintained contact with many sisters via social media, phone and email.
Jessica Vitente shares an embrace with Sister Marceline Mattingly.
During this time, her interest in the Congregation only grew.
“I realized a couple of years into discernment that if I want to be the best version of myself for my family, friends, and the world, I should follow the path that God has presented me,” she said. “As time went on and my relationship with the Sisters of Providence deepened, the path became clear.”
Jessica said her love for Providence kept edging her toward the Sisters of Providence.
“I intensively explored the idea of religious life because I knew God was tugging at my heart strongly,” she said. “This gave me peace, joy and happiness, so I trusted, surrendered and followed Jesus.”
Director of Postulants Sister Marsha Speth will help coordinate Jessica’s new schedule and ministry.
“Jessica will learn everything she can about our Congregation, and that includes learning about community practices, traditions and ministries,” Sister Marsha said.
After a year in the postulancy, Jessica will be eligible to enter into the first year of the novitiate. At that point, she will receive the title of sister.
For more information about the Sisters of Providence, visit SistersofProvidence.org.
About the Sisters of Providence
The Sisters of Providence, a congregation of 214 women religious, with 300 Providence Associates, collaborate with others to create a more just and hope-filled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy. The Sisters of Providence have their motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, located just northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind., which is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 13 states, the District of Columbia and Asia, through works of love, mercy and justice. More information about the Sisters of Providence and their ministries can be found at SistersofProvidence.org.
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