The Sisters of Providence Annual meeting looked quite different this year. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the gathering of sisters and associates from across the country and across the world that usually takes place each summer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods happened virtually instead.
Sisters and Providence Associates gathered in small local groups or in small virtual meeting groups. Then all the groups and individuals joined together via Zoom to pray, sing, listen to presentations and prepare for the future. It was amazing to see technology bring together sisters and associates in different parts of the United States and even across the globe in Taiwan. The energy and love of being together on the same screen transcended great distance.
Social distancing, face masks, small gatherings and screens didn’t stop these sisters and associates from being community together. We are so blessed!
Sisters and Providence Associates together on Zoom from many remote locations filled multiple pages of the screen
Some of the sisters meeting in the Woodland Inn small group pose for a picture: from left Sisters Betty Koressel, Cynthia Lynge, Mary Maloney, Carol Lindly and Jeanette Marie Lucinio
Our sisters in Taiwan participated at 9 p.m. their time, through Zoom, and joined our sisters in the U.S. at 9 a.m. It felt like they were in the same room.
In an Indianapolis-area small group Sister Marilyn Herber and Providence Associate Kathleen Shickles
A virtual small meeting group from top left: Sister Grace Marie Meehan, Providence Associate Suzie Ray, Sisters Doreen Lai, Mary Jo Piccione and Josephine Bryan and Sister Carolyn Kessler
Sister Mary Lou Ruck, center left, enjoys a good laugh with her group in the Providence Hall Resource Room
A virtual small group, from top left: Providence Associate Bill Okey, Sister Mary Mundy and Providence Associate Bev Okey, Sister Corbin Hannah, Sister Ann Sullivan, Providence Associate Jeannie Smith, Sister Joni Luna and Providence Associate Ezra Kyle Meadors
The Foley Room is a flexible space perfect for meetings, programs or small gatherings.
Sisters discuss a break-out session question in their small group in Providence Hall resource room. From left: Sisters Mary Lou Ruck, Arlene Knarzer, Kathleen Leonard, Jeanne Hagelskamp, Gloria Memering
Sisters Mary Ann Lechner, Marie Esther Sivertsen and Mary Lois Hennel discuss in their small group in Providence Hall
Virtual small group meeting on screen. From top left: Providence Associate Diana Garza, Sister Nancy Reynolds, Providence Associates Joan Frisz, Regina Hartman, Lorraine Kirker
General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski addresses the sisters and associates at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Sister Dawn on the screen in Chicago as well
Providence Hall sister observers discuss, from left: Sisters Dorothy Ellen Wolsiffer, Joan Mary Schaefer, Donna Butler, Loretta Picucci, Elizabeth Meyer
Some of the sisters in Taiwan, from left: Sisters Norene Wu, Anna Fan, Rose Chiu, Celeste Tsai, Donna Marie Fu and Delan Ma
Small meeting group in Providence Hall Conference Room, from left back: Sisters Barbara Bluntzer, Paula Modaff, Marianne Ridgell, Maria Saracco, Rosemary Schmalz and Joann Quinkert
A virtual small group of sisters, from top left: Sisters Catherine Guiler and Marie Denis Lucey, Mary Morley, Ellen Kehoe and Brigid Ann and Eileen Rose Bonner
Sisters Mary Ryan and Ann Margaret O’Hara, in Lourdes Hall, view Providence Associate Jane Fischer on the screen.
A Chicago-area small group, from left clockwise: Providence Associate Gene Majewski, Providence Associate Stephen Modde, Sister Marilyn Kofler, Providence Associate Marilyn Neuman, Sister Kathleen Desautels
From left, Providence Associate Laura Dudkowski and Sisters Pat Mahoney and Sharon Richards during a prayer moment with their Chicago-area group
Small group discussion in Foley Room at the Woods, from left: Sisters Marsha Speth, Rose Ann Eaton and Providence Associates Cynthia MacWhorter and Lorrie Scheidler
Small group in the Council Room at SMW, from left clockwise: Sisters Rosemary Nudd, Janice Smith, Mary Montgomery, Dawn Tomaszewski, Providence Associate Karen Goehl and Sister Marie Grace Molloy
Sisters Martha Wessel, Rosemary Borntrager and Ann Paula Pohlman join the meeting from Lourdes Hall
Providence Associate Joan Frisz and Sister Nancy Reynolds in Louisville
More of the Indianapolis-area group, from bottom left: Providence Associate Joe Horan, Sister Connie Kramer and Sister Mary Ann Stewart
Small meeting group in Providence Hall Conference Room, from left: Sisters Kay Manley, Barbara Bluntzer, Paula Modaff, Marianne Ridgell, Maria Saracco, Rosemary Schmalz and Joann Quinkert
Sister Mary Lois Hennel speaks with her group
Virtual group from top: Providence Associate Diann Neu, Sister Laura Parker, Barbara Sheehan and Providence Associate Kathryn Martin
Masks off for a quick picture. A small group in Chicago, from left: Sisters Lois Ann Stoiber, Carol Meyers, Josephine Paolinelli, Betty Smigla, Patricia McGlynn, Joseph Ellen Keitzer, Maureen Sheehan, Janice Ostrowski
A funny photo shared by another group who wondered, as Sister Emily TeKolste shared the happenings from her group, who the hostage was and if she got away 🙂
Sisters at the Woods enjoy seeing all their sisters and associates on the screen from afar. From left: Sisters Gloria Memering, Arlene Knarzer, Mary Lou Ruck and Carol Nolan
Sisters meeting in the Havlik Center at the Woods, from left clockwise: Sisters Dorothy Gartland, Mary Ann Phelan, Marilyn Trobaugh, Martha Ann Rifner, Maureen Abbott
A Chicago-area group poses for a photo, from left: Providence Associate Sara Bennett, Sisters Sharon Richards, Pat Mahoney, Diane Mason, Providence Associates Elizabeth Kolar and Laura Dudkowski
One of the small groups at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, from left clockwise: Providence Associate Ryan Sheehy, Sister Ann Matilda Holloran, Providence Associate Stephanie Downing, Sisters Emily TeKolste and Denise Wilkinson
Members of a virtual group from top left: Providence Assciates Ron Keller, Debbie Dillow, Sisters Jean Fuqua, Susanne Gallagher, Providence Associate Michelle Davis, Sisters Teresina Grasso and Regina Gallo, PA Cathy Keller
Sister Diane Mason and Providence Associates Sara Bennett and Laura Dudkowski in a Chicago-area small group
A group from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. From left: Sister Mary Beth Klingel, Providence Associate Charles Fisher, Sister Su Hsin Huang, Providence Associate Diane Weidenbenner, Sisters Jody O’Neil and Betty Hopf
Applauding, small group in the Council Room at SMW, from left clockwise: Sisters Rosemary Nudd, Janice Smith, Mary Montgomery, Dawn Tomaszewski, Providence Associate Karen Goehl and Sister Marie Grace Molloy
A virtual group from top left: Sisters Dorothy Rasche and Jan Craven, Providence Associates Ann Henderson and Sandy Wickware, Sisters Tracey Horan and My Huong Pham, and Providence Associate Monica Hayden
Sister Anne Therese Falkenstein in Taiwan joins her sisters around the world.
Amy, you have created a true work of art uniting all of us, associates and sisters all over the United States and Taiwan. Thank you!
You captured sights and feelings perfectly, Amy. Thank you!
Amy, I saw many more sisters as I studied the pictures, more than when I viewed the screen on the two days of meetings. Thank you
Amy, thank you for this pictorial gallery of our annual meeting gathering. The energy was rejuvenating when we met. It’s good to have this close up view of our Providence Community!
I taught with the Sisters of Providence for 13 years in Chicago. One characteristic that always stood out was their stubbornness! Not the usual garden variety. This was the kind of stubbornness that means something that needs to be done is going to get done! Truly admirable!
Thanks, Amy–for reminding me of some interesting times!
Thanks so much for sharing pictures of all you wonderful women of God who are still accomplishing great things for the love of God. I recognized many of you and am proud to have spent some years working with you. The Woods will always be one of my favorite places!
You are in my prayers,
Pat Barclay Coyle
Thanks to all who commented and thanks to you, Amy, for giving us some fantastic faces and photos to comment about!