Sisters of Providence offer update on closures amid coronavirus crisis

With the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announcing new guidelines limiting the amount of people at gatherings due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, have updated their list of closures, including events, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

On Monday, the CDC issued new guidelines recommending limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people for eight weeks.

Out of an abundance of caution because of the nature of the threat of COVID-19, the Sisters of Providence announced they would be closing their Motherhouse to visitors on March 13 through March 31.

However, due to the new restricted guidelines offered from the CDC, the following events scheduled to take place at Providence Spirituality & Conference Center, have been canceled:

* Springtime Scripture (March 19, March 26, April 2),

* Coffee with the Mystics (March 21, March 24),

* Retreat for Busy Moms (March 27-29),

* Art Guild events (April 1, April 2, May 5, May 7),

* Way of the Cross for Justice (Good Friday, April 10),

* Easter Brunch (April 12),

* Taizé (April 14 and May 12),

* Sundays at the Woods: Art at the Woods (April 19),

* Enneagram Workshop (May 1-3),

* Bikers, Brunch and Blessing (May 3),

* Women, Wine and Wisdom at the Woods (May 7, 14 and 21),

* Mother’s Day Brunch (May 10), and

* Sundays at the Woods: Farm Tour at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (May 17).

The Congregation’s annual Earth Day and Craft Fair festival, scheduled for April 25, has also been canceled.

In addition, tours have been canceled as well as other scheduled events. Sunday Brunch in the O’Shaughnessy Dining Room has also been canceled for March 22 and 29; April 5, 12, 19 and 26; and May 3 and 10.

The Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and the Church of the Immaculate Conception are also temporarily closed to the public.

The Congregation’s General Council announced that “Due to the medically fragile nature of most of the residents of Providence Hall and our surrounding small community dwellings, we will no longer be allowing visitors into our buildings.”

Providence Health Care, also located at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and sponsored by the Congregation, closed its facility to the public at the conclusion of business on Thursday, March 12.

The closings and cancellations do not affect Linden Leaf Gifts, inside Providence Spirituality & Conference Center, or the Farm Store at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.

The action is being taken in order to protect the sisters who are elderly within the Congregation.

For more information, call Jason Moon, media relations manager for the Sisters of Providence, at 812-535-2810, or email jmoon@spsmw.org, or Diane Weidenbenner, director of marketing and communications, at 812-535-2802, 812-249-9381, or email dweidenb@spsmw.org.