Sisters of Providence

“I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upward to receive in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) “The person of Christ was the lodestone of St. Paul’s life; and pursuit of him was a constant toward which he raced. Sister Agnes Farrell might not have used Paul’s words, but for…

“Be glad in the Creator, rejoice in Love Divine!” (from Jan C. Merrill’s “Psalms for Praying,” Psalm 149) “This Psalm seems to fit Sister Catherine Sienna very well. I’m sure she is now glad in her Creator, rejoicing in Love Divine and praising God with dancing,” said Sister Rita Clare Gerardot in her commentary for…

Sister Ann Michele Kiefer died Sept. 30, 2008, and her Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 2 with the Rev. Daniel Hopcus presiding. Sister Ann Michele is survived by her brothers, Jacob of Savannah, Ga., and Michael of Indianapolis. The following commentary was written by Sister Connie Kramer. COMMENTARY FOR SISTER ANN MICHELE KIEFER, SP…

Sister Susan “Sue” Pietrus died Sept. 13 and her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 17 with the Rev. Daniel Hopcus presiding. Sister Sue, who entered the Congregation Aug. 23, 1975, professed first and perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1978, and Aug. 19, 1984, respectively. She was a beloved director of music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods…

“Who shall find a Providence woman? She is far more precious than jewels.” (Adapted from Proverbs 31:10 by Sister Myra Rodgers, CDP) “Sister Rose Louise was a woman of nobility, the definition of which is human excellence, that which is illustrious, admirable, lofty and distinguished in values, conduct and bearing. As we saw and experienced…

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) “This reading is from Psalm 27, which is one of Sister Mary Joanita’s favorite Psalms. The Health Care staff said that when she woke up during the night she would recite this line,” said Sister Catherine Livers in her commentary for…

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. …” (John 14:2) “If home in the natural sense is ‘the place from which we start,’ Mary Gallagher’s home was Errarooey in County Donegal, Ireland. On Dec. 2, 1914, just as the world was being shaken by the thunder of the First World War, Mary was…

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the Earth. … You are the light of the world.’” (Matthew 5:13a, 14a) “This Gospel reading from Matthew was used at the Eucharistic Liturgy the day after Sister Marian Elizabeth’s death and I immediately knew it would be appropriate for her wake service. ‘Salt’ and…

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21) “‘Peace. … As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ This quote from the Gospel of John was a favorite of Sister Mary Ellen and supported her all the days of her life and especially during her…