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.

Golden jubilees celebrated throughout SP history

For days before the big celebration, young sisters were washing habits and pressing them and making sure everything was ready for the special day, recalls Sister Suzanne Brezette, who entered the Congregation in 1938. The golden jubilee celebrations of old…

Personal stories from bell and chimes ringers

Sister Ann Casper “One summer repairs were needed to the church [Church of the Immaculate Conception] tower bells. Bell ringers were told to have a second bell ringer accompany them because the pulley allowing the bells to easily swing in…

Sister Jean (Marian Jean) Arkenberg

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?’” (Matthew 25:37) “This short section from St. Matthew seems appropriate for Sister Jean…

Sister Jean Karier

“I often ponder over the goodness God has shown me in my life. It has been a beautiful and blessed life.” (Sister Jean Karier) “It has been a beautiful and blessed life. There have been ups and downs, but God…

Sister Barbara Battista

Barbara Battista was working as a pharmacist and leading a good life. “I was an independent woman. I was sure of myself. I was pretty much a wild child. I just didn’t have much room for the Church in my…

Sister-nurses during the Civil War (video)

The Sisters of Providence served as sister-nurses during the Civil War. This video sheds some light on this unique service to the nation. (with audio) Article praises Civil War video for sharing Congregation’s history.

Surgeons’ report at Indy Military Hospital

A report by Dr. John M. Kitchen and Dr. Patrick H. Jameson, hospital surgeons at the Military Hospital in Indianapolis, provided the following information in a report to Inspector-General Miles Murphy. The report was published by the Indianapolis Daily Journal.…

Civil War hospital routines

Excerpts from the Indianapolis Daily Journal, dated July 22, 1864: Hospital routine “The business of the day begins at five o’clock. At that hour the nurses busy themselves in cleaning the spittoons, washing the faces and arms of the patients,…

A Civil War widow joins the Sisters of Providence

With the death of her husband, Major John Patrick Dufficy, on June 20, 1864, Minerva Dufficy became a widow. By an act approved by Congress on July 14, 1862, she was entitled to a widow’s claim. Minerva received a monthly…

Sister Mary Rosita Thewes

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) “In searching the Scriptures for this occasion, I found the words of Saint Paul to the Philippians a mirror reflection of…