Providence Juniorate (Aspirancy) Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana

Enjoy reconnecting with friends and visiting your home at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Keep in touch on Facebook

Alumnae are invited to bring memorabilia from their time in the Juniorate/Aspirancy. Please label with your name, the year you attended and bring to registration for placement on the memories table. It will be your responsibility to pick up your memorabilia as you leave at the end of the day on Friday.

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Providence Juniorate/Aspirancy has an active group on Facebook and is managed by Barb Kovats Tuttle. You must send a request to join. Get started here! As soon as Barb sees your request, she will add you to this group.

For reunion information, you can contact Barb Kovats Tuttle at barbkt@tampabay.rr.com for more information.

History of the Providence Juniorate/Aspirancy

In 1930, Mother Mary Raphael Slattery, having closed Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Academy and moved it to Ladywood in Indianapolis, planned to open Providence Juniorate at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The institution of minor seminaries had become an accepted phase of clerical life in the United States, and many communities of women religious were led to open similar high schools in connection with their novitiates. Providence Juniorate (or Aspirancy, as it was renamed after the initiation of the Sisters Formation Program) became accredited and was eminently successful through the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The Fathers of Vatican II addressed reforms in seminary life and suggested that future seminarians do normal activities in high school and have frequent contact with their families. The sisters also began to recommend that young women interested in religious life attend high school at home. Diocesan high schools were becoming plentiful. For this reason, the Aspirancy closed in 1965. Almost 900 young women had received all or part of their education there. Thirty eight percent entered the Novitiate and 75 percent remained to become professed members of the Congregation.