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Sister Denise Wilkinson

Content written by Sister Denise

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Journals and Letters week 29: Letters to a beloved companion

Judging from her letters to Sister Basilide, Mother Theodore had a special love for “this good and dear” sister. That love demonstrated itself in Mother Theodore’s words of caution, gentle criticism and frank admonishments — always accompanied by words of affection and encouragement.

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Journals and Letters week 25: Making fair progress

Now that the sorrow-burdened years are behind her, Mother Theodore’s attention can return to ensuring the “fair progress” of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and the sisters’ establishing missions across Indiana.

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Journals and Letters week 21: The cross awaits

The cross did await Mother Theodore and her sisters “at every turn.” The conflict with the bishop took many more twists and turns before the rule was approved and the land deeded over. Yet she persisted.

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Prayer

Keep it simple, Silly: A Lenten prayer

Kind – one act of kindness each day of Lent.
Identity – once a day for forty days say, “God loves me as I am.”

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Journals and Letters week 17: Mother Theodore’s own words

Yet, no matter how frightening the weather or terrifying an incident, Mother Theodore could and did pray.

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Allowing for God’s presence: Sisters of Providence hospital chaplains

“Being open to the Spirit in this ministry is a must, along with a deep prayer life, so that we may stay aligned and be able to exhibit an open presence to the other.”

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Story

You can help bring a happy ending to restore St. Joseph’s Lake

The lake water disappeared. In February 2018, days and days of heavy rain caused several large trees to be torn loose from the earthen berm. When the trees fell, a section of the berm collapsed, allowing the lake water to “escape.”

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Journals and Letters week 13: Relationships

The eight pages we read from the Mother Theodore’s ‘Journals and Letters” create quite the patchwork quilt of relationships — some intriguing, some annoying, some tender, some puzzling, some of the true blue kind.

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Journals and Letters week 9: The Journey’s end

Mother Theodore entered a culture entirely unknown to her; so perhaps the mission succeeded and endures because of her willingness to act, observe, learn and adapt.

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Thanksgiving prayer

I am thankful for the freedom of our nation and worried about the deep divisions between and among us.

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Journals and Letters week 5: The measure of the woman

Did the woman carry a yard stick? A surveyor’s measure? A folded up paper chart that converts leagues to miles, meters to inches or feet?

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Reflecting on the United States through the writing of Saint Mother Theodore

What words draw you into prayer?

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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.