Living Providence: What It Meant to Be a Sister of Providence Today

Simply put, being a Sister of Providence means a million different things because life is made up of a million (at least) different aspects! One of the best ways to describe what it means today is for me to look at our Constitutions: the guide for our way of life. Two of my favorite sections are those on the “Mission of the Congregation” and the “Call to Community”.

Mission of the Congregation

Our mission is clear: to honor Divine Providence and to further God’s loving plans by devoting ourselves to works of love, mercy and justice in service among God’s people.

For me, it means giving myself wholly and completely to the Divine in whatever ministry I find myself. It means being a sign of hope and love in a broken world; showing mercy and compassion to all persons, regardless of their past or present situation; working for justice, especially for the poor and oppressed, the lonely and forgotten. Even as I type these words I can feel my heart burning inside me! It gives me energy — I stopped to look up a Scripture passage that came to mind! “I have come to set the world on fire and how I wish it were already blazing” (Luke 12:49). 

Religious life does set my heart on fire! I’m reminded of the following reflection written by Joseph Whelan, SJ:

Nothing is more practical than finding God,

than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with,

what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.

t will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,

what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends,

what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart,

and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

The second selection on the “Call to Community” reads: “Community is formed by faith, hope and love lived not only in moments of light and peace but also in the pain and darkness of human existence.”
Life in community is an extraordinary gift. I know that I am with persons who share in the mission, who support one another and lift up one another. We rejoice and weep together and are encouraged by the words of our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin who said, “Have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful. And rest assured, my dear daughters [and sons], if you lean with all your weight upon Providence, you will find yourself well supported.”

Held by God

During these uncertain times, we’re called to be women of hope, women of prayer, women of courage. I recently heard a preacher ask this question: Who holds us? He reminded us that no political agenda holds us; no crisis holds us. It is only God who holds us.

Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of HOPE magazine.