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.
Countless acts of violence are taking the lives of children, family members, friends, political leaders and others in this country and in the world.
Each of us has the capacity to decrease or increase the violence by our thoughts, words and actions. Every time we attempt to divide persons or groups over and against others rather than working for the common good, we sow seeds of violence.
Sister Jessica Vitente in prayer.
Today, attending public events such as celebrations, parades, rallies, or even simply going to school can cause some concern. Indeed, violence in words and deeds is all around us. And yet, goodness is also all around us.
Words matter. Every time we use derogatory words to label and dehumanize or deprive other persons of opportunities we choose for ourselves, we increase the possibility of violence exponentially. It doesn’t matter if the words are spoken publicly or in circles where one feels safe to express such cruel thoughts. The damage is done. The world is made less safe for everyone.
Let’s all choose to work at being able to disagree with another’s ideas while at the same time agreeing on our common humanity and thus treating all persons with dignity and respect.
The Sisters of Providence Community’s Litany of Nonviolence can help us discover where violence lives within us. It lights a path towards embracing nonviolence. We invite you to pray this litany with us as together we ‘beg the grace of a non-violent heart.’ May it be so.
Provident God, aware of our own brokenness, we ask the gift of courage to identify how and where we are in need of conversion in order to live in solidarity with Earth and all creation.
Deliver us from the violence of superiority and disdain. Grant us the desire, and the humility, to listen with special care to those whose experiences and attitudes are different from our own.
Deliver us from the violence of greed and privilege. Grant us the desire, and the will, to live simply so others may have their just share of Earth’s resources.
Deliver us from the silence that gives consent to abuse, war and evil. Grant us the desire, and the courage, to risk speaking and acting for the common good.
Deliver us from the violence of irreverence, exploitation and control. Grant us the desire, and the strength, to act responsibly within the cycle of creation.
God of love, mercy and justice, acknowledging our complicity in those attitudes, action and words which perpetuate violence, we beg the grace of a non-violent heart. Amen.
The Leadership Team of the Sisters of Providence
Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, SP, General Superior,
Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp, SP, Vicar/Treasurer,
Sister Laura Parker, SP, General Councilor,
Sister Anne Therese Falkenstein, SP, General Councilor,
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are a congregation of Roman Catholic women religious (sisters) who minister throughout the United States and Taiwan. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence in 1840. The congregation has a mission of being God's Providence in the world by committing to performing works of love, mercy and justice in service among God's people.
Thank you for this beautiful message! These are indeed powerful words … and a powerful prayer! May we all learn the ways of nonviolence. Just to let you know that I noticed a letter is missing on the fourth paragraph: deprive other persons f opportunities (the “o” is missing, it should read “of”).
Peace and love, Karol Feld, Coordinator of Associate Membership for the Medical Mission Sisters in North America
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Thank you for this beautiful message! These are indeed powerful words … and a powerful prayer! May we all learn the ways of nonviolence. Just to let you know that I noticed a letter is missing on the fourth paragraph: deprive other persons f opportunities (the “o” is missing, it should read “of”).
Peace and love, Karol Feld, Coordinator of Associate Membership for the Medical Mission Sisters in North America