Sister Denise Wilkinson

Sister Denise Wilkinson

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.

String pulled on the Ginkgo tree this week

My favorite tree – and I have hundreds to choose from here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods – is the huge Ginkgo tree in front of Corbe House, where I live.

The tree is huge! Sister Rose Ann Eaton and I just went out to measure the circumference of the trunk – 205 inches! While engaged in this pursuit, Rose told me a story she had heard from Sister Marceline Mattingly now in her nineties. Marceline remembers when the Ginkgo tree had only a single trunk. A storm broke the tree down near its base. As the tree regrew, it developed the multiple trunks very evident today. The tree’s shaggy bark, many trunks melding into one another and the sheer width of the branches lend distinctiveness, character and interest to “my” tree.

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Providence Associates’ Commitment and Renewal Liturgy reflection

We know the love Jesus has for us is marked by compassion, inclusiveness, healing actions and often seemingly impossible challenges – like turning the other check, walking the extra mile, laying down one’s life not just for friends but for those we call our enemies. That’s how we are to love one another.

Saint Mother Theodore’s feast day

Happy Feast Day! How wonderful to celebrate once again and with one another our very own saint! We here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are so fortunate to walk where she walked, to have so many reminders of her all around us…

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Joyful experience in Taiwan

Two of the most privileged and sacred moments I enjoy in my ministry as general superior are receiving the vows of our newer members and praying the blessing prayer at the funeral of a deceased Sister of Providence. Each experience touches me deeply and evokes feelings of profound wonder and gratitude.
I’m thinking the above because I just returned from Taiwan and first profession of vows of one our Asian novices. What a joyful experience!

Gifts of relationship, friendship

Who knew that April has been designated by someone National Card and Letter Writing Month? Personally, I’m for it. I love to both receive and write letters and cards. This is not to say that I’m as faithful to the…

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Grandma’s rituals: Holy Week & Easter 2013

I approach the assignment of writing a reflection for Easter with more than a little trepidation. The resurrection of Jesus is the key mystery of our faith; it is the lynchpin from which all other teachings and living of our…

Be kind. It’s bumpy out there.

Evidently I had too much time on my hands while preparing to write about Random Acts of Kindness Day. I got to thinking: isn’t any act of kindness random — by definition? Kindness — according to Jesus — flows outward…