Sister Denise Wilkinson

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Staff members who participated in dementia care training share how it makes a difference in their everyday care giving: Don’t take any behaviors personally.** Build trust by spending time with each person.** Learn to read the cues of a person. A non-verbal person may ordinarily smile as a greeting; but if there’s no smile, she’s having a bad time of it.
Read moreThe days of Advent, the Church’s season of waiting, holds so many possibilities for us
Read moreIt is rare that a Sister of Providence going to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods doesn’t say, “I’m going home.” It is rare that visitors to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods campus don’t remark on the beauty, the peace and comfort they experience on the campus. It is rare that the Woods isn’t described as a special place or as welcoming.…
Read moreOn Sept. 1, Harve Schlachter also began a new season in his professional life. He was named co-director of the Sisters of Providence Mission Advancement office and director of development, with specific responsibilities for donor relations and fund raising.
Read moreThe kin-dom of God is like a Kleenex that’s been washed, rinsed, spun dry in a washing machine
Read moreA huge white oak tree fell to the ground one day last week. Well, it wasn’t really a huge white oak tree. It was Huge. Not really. It was HUGE! It was old. Well, it was OLD. (Maybe the tree greeted Mother Theodore and her companions as they explored their forest home.) The day the…
Read moreNo matter how virtual the trip, a five-day journey requires real life experience, dedicated and creative travel agents
Read moreHOME is a culture change. Its intention is to make the entire Woods a dementia-friendly place for both those living with cognitive challenges and for their families and friends. HOME is an acronym for Helping Ourselves Meaningfully Engage.
Read moreAll in all, it seems Jack has caught the essence of our saint: very brave, a lover of nature and very kind. Jack himself is very much that way: very brave, a lover of nature and very caring. That’s the thing about saints. We want to be like them.
Read moreReading: John 15: 2 – 7 Jesus said, “He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just…
Read moreReading: John 10: 11–18 “Jesus said: I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me. … I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” Reflection: One method of…
Read moreReading: Luke 24: 35 – 48 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in…
Read moreSister Denise was the general superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 2006-2016. She previously served as a high school teacher, college administrator, postulant/novice director and director of advancement and communications for Congregation. From September 2017, Sister Denise serves as Donor Relations Associate in Mission Advancement office.