Sister Donna Butler

Sister Donna Butler

Sister Donna Butler has been a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for more than 60 years. Sister Donna has served in elementary education, parish ministry, diocesan social justice, as well as the Congregation’s liturgy office, archives department and social justice outreach. She also administered as the director of the Providence Volunteer Ministry. Sister Donna currently volunteers in outreach with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students.

Dandelion Prayer

UnwelcomedSave by children,Dandelion,I declare youPatron flowerOf prophets. Who wouldBelieve such powerLies withinThe beautyOf your softGeometric fluffPosed to takeA rideOn the windAnd land inUninvited places?

Compost Time

I’m throwingthe unwanted scrapsof my life hereinto the compost bintrusting that Godcan take whatseems so uselessand, amazingly,transform itinto rich, dark soilso the seedsof my futuremay be luredinto vibrant life again. (This article originally appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of…

Prayer for healing

Jesus, let me just touch your garmentas did the womanof ancient times. O Divine Healer,please stay right here,if you will,while I hurry backwith all of creation.

Daughters of the Forest

Did you ever knowWe are all on life support?Oh, I don’t mean respirators,Tubes and hospital things.I mean things like honey bees and trees,Wind and water, sun and soil,Farmers and gardeners, compost and creatures,Darkness and light. Saint Mother TheodoreSisters Basilide, St.…

Holy Ground

O God,I kiss this holy groundThis place of promises in processThis place of people seeking GodAnd of God seeking and saving a peopleA place of knowing one is hungryAnd of being fedThis place of grumblingAnd of silenceThis space of solitudeAnd…

After the Rain

Water dropletClinging so closelyTo the branchSuddenlyLosing your gripYou plummetTo the groundOf my beingSo thirstyFor one more taste of baptismal grace