Sisters of Providence

Sisters of Providence

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are a congregation of Roman Catholic women religious (sisters) who minister throughout the United States and Taiwan. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence in 1840. The congregation has a mission of being God's Providence in the world by committing to performing works of love, mercy and justice in service among God's people.

Sister Mary Mundy

Download Complete Interview with Sister Mary Mundy Q. Why did you choose to become a Sister of Providence? A. That’s a good question. Three generations of the Mundy family ahead of me were Sisters of Providence so I heard about…

Sister Marie Eleanor Shaw

“Jesus told his disciples this parable: ‘The reign of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.’” (Matthew 25:1) “Sister Marie Eleanor Shaw died in the early hours of Aug. 27,…

Letter from a saint: to Father Martin

Portions of a letter to the Rev. Augustine Martin, May 1, 1841 (Father Martin gave the sisters their first retreat in the United States Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, 1840. In 1841, he was the pastor of the parish in…

Sister Ann Miriam Zell

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Luke 12:34) “Sister Ann Miriam’s death occurred only days short of her entrance anniversary. On Friday, Aug. 20, she would have marked exactly 78 years as a Sister of…

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Archives and the Civil War

The Sisters of Providence Archives has several historical documents and photos related to the Civil War. The Congregation, of course, provided nursing service at the Military Hospital in Indianapolis as well as the emergency hospital in Vincennes, Ind., during the…

Sister Jean Patrice Keenon

“And the Holy One will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my sisters and brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:40) “This is the Scripture reading that…

Sister Mary Catherine Guiler

Download Complete Interview with Sister Mary Catherine Guiler Q. Why did you choose to become a Sister of Providence? A. The grade school I attended in Washington, D.C., was staffed by the Holy Cross Sisters and from the moment I…

Nuns of the Battlefield

“Nuns of the Battlefield” was written by Ellen Ryan Jolly and originally published in 1927. This monograph highlights the women’s religious congregations that ministered to soldiers during the Civil War. In the foreward, William A. Hickey, then-bishop of Providence, R.I.,…

Hand of Providence

“The Hand of Providence” by the Rev. John F. McShane was published in 1949. The frontispiece of this small book states, “A tribute to the Civil War nurses of the Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., whose five years of…

Vision of Mother Theodore

While searching for some information in the files of Mother Superior Gertrude Clare Owens, Archives volunteer Sister Marie Grace Molloy found this very interesting statement concerning a vision of Mother Theodore that Mrs. Michael Owens had in 1910. It was…

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