HOME 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.
" I loved being the very place where Mother Theodore worshiped in her years of living in La Providence. To sit in this very simple chapel for hours refreshed and renewed me. There I experienced in a unique way the presence of Mother Theodore," writes Sister Denise Wilkinson.
It seems to me that that new perspective created a home, a free space, a quiet space, a breathing space
Something spiritual is all around us.
If one lives in Indiana and in many places in the northern hemisphere, everything about autumn can be spiritual – spiritual in the sense of the possibilities presented to pull us into someone greater than ourselves, some mystery beautiful, intricate and inspiring.
I am getting to know each sister by paying attention to her expressions, her voice, her walk, her greeting of others. I notice her desire to communicate with me and her frustration at not knowing English.
Most of all I notice smiles. I didn’t expect smiles as comfort, joy, wordless compassion. Right now that’s what they are for me and I hope for the sisters I encounter.
They saw that we genuinely love one another.
After a years’ long and sometimes painful investigation, that is what stands out for me from the results of the apostolic visitation on our community of women religious by the Vatican.
Sister Joni Luna professes her first vows as a Sister of Providence on June 26, 2016, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Sister Denise reflects on three Sisters of Providence celebrating 50 years with the Congregation and one sisters celebrating 25 years as a sister. "All four of you answer the call of Jesus to reach out, to touch those longing for a deeper friendship with the Holy One. You touch those who mourn and those meek persons hungering for what rightfully is theirs though they are pushed to the sidelines by would-be leaders."
So many parents, wives, husbands and children mourn and remember loved ones who have died in wars far from home or very near home.
“You persistently encourage us to build not destroy, … to have mercy towards the one we see as least deserving or the one who has hurt us deeply and to love, love, love and love more.” Sister Denise Wilkinson dares us to look more deeply at mercy in our lives.