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Sister Denise Wilkinson

Content written by Sister Denise

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Hopelessness is not an option in the face of this evil

Those of you who know the Sisters of Providence know that one of the social justice issues to which we dedicate ourselves is working to end human trafficking. We began these efforts in earnest last year when Indianapolis hosted the 2012 Superbowl. This event opened our eyes to the extent of this evil practice. Alert…

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Coming of age with Vatican II

On Sept. 12, 1963, the Sisters of Providence welcomed 58 of us as postulants. We arrived with a small black suitcase and a foot locker filled with a variety of personal supplies, regulation nightgowns, black stockings, nun shoes, men’s white handkerchiefs, black postulant skirts, black under blouses and black capes. We signed in the official…

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Mary, our companion: New Year’s 2013

When we gather for Eucharistic liturgy on January 1, we will celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God. How appropriate to keep her in our view as we begin a new year! She has been our companion all during the Advent season, and she certainly has been at the center of our attention as…

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Light the candles! Christmas 2012

Like a dull ache, memory of the massacre of the children and adults of Sandy Hook School accompanies me everywhere and all the time these days. It’s one of those times when I have to keep reminding myself that more than one thing can be true at the same time. True – no family anywhere…

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Senior jubilarians – 80 years and counting

Editor’s note: Reflection from Sister Denise Wilkinson, general superior, given on Dec. 8 during Eucharistic Liturgy to sisters, associates and visitors. While this message is specifically for the sisters celebrating their senior jubilee, the message resonates universally to all God’s people living out the Gospel message. Congratulations to these ever-faithful sisters who continue to serve in…

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Celebrating, praying, singing and dining in Taiwan

Sisters Lisa Stallings, Jenny Howard and I have recently returned from a visit with our sisters in Taiwan. What a time! Our main reason for going was to participate in the silver jubilee celebration of our Sister Rose Chiu and golden jubilee of our Sister Marilyn Baker. Celebrating with them was golden jubilarian Sister Angela…

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Always count your blessings …

Sometime after my mom retired, she “got into” ceramics. She and her friends went to classes taught by a woman in my mom’s neighborhood. For the most part, they applied glazes to clay pieces of various shapes and sizes. Many of her nieces received a wide variety of holiday ceramic pieces for their wedding showers….

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Sister Denise reflection: 2012 Rite of Commitment

How wonderful to gather today to celebrate lives knit together in a profound way by the charism of the providence of God, by the conviction that God’s design for us and for Earth, for all creation is a compassionate and loving design! How wonderful to know ourselves called to be agents of “works of love,…

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One continuous and continuing flow: All Saints and All Souls Days 2012

For some time now, the celebrations of All Saints and All Souls days have sort of morphed together in my mind, each feast blended into the other. The distinction between the two feasts has more or less disappeared for me. On All Saints day we recall (to state the obvious), all the saints — official…

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Do extraordinary things: Foundation Day 2012

Happy Foundation Day! We celebrate with deep gratitude the six Sisters of Providence who arrived here 172 years ago today! I know you can name them – Mother Theodore Guerin, Sister St. Vincent Gagé, Sister Basilide Sénéchal, Sister Olympiade Boyer, Sister Mary Xavier Lerée, and Sister Mary Ligouri Tiercin. These six ranged in age from…

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Asking questions: Feast Day 2012

A couple of years ago, two sisters provided me with something to smile over, puzzle about, and learn from. At the time, we Sisters of Providence were in the midst of making an important decision. As always, there were different points of view. As always, these different points of view were articulated with the passion…

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The shepherd’s crook and staff

  In the past two weeks, two of our sisters have died. We celebrated their lives with stories, prayer, and Eucharistic liturgy. Psalm 23 — the song of praise to the Good Shepherd — was part of both celebrations. For days, a particular verse of that psalm has taken up residence in my mind and heart:…

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Sister 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 the Congregation. Currently, Sister Denise serves the Congregation in various volunteer positions.

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To learn more about Sister Denise, view her sister profile page.