Sister Tracey Horan
Sister Tracey Horan professed first vows in 2017. She professed final vows in 2022 and was elected as part of the 2026-31 leadership team in July 2026.
Prayer for guidance
At times when the way ahead,
or even the next step,
seems unclear,
assure me that You know what is to come;
that You envision
a plan to prosper me and not to harm me,
to give me a future full of hope.
God’s call is finding a place where we can thrive and be our fullest selves
"When we talk about vocation, when we talk about a call, it's not that God is asking us to fit into some box that doesn't fit us. It's about finding a place where we can really thrive and be our fullest selves."
New energy, focus for justice
Before discerning a focus, sisters and associates gave input on their priorities. Six key justice issues emerged: environment, human trafficking, immigration and refugees, anti-racism, women’s issues and nonviolence. Still … there was a clear desire for focus.
A prayer for times of discernment
At times when the way ahead,
or even the next step,
seems unclear,
assure me that You know what is to come;
that You envision
a plan to prosper me and not to harm me,
to give me a future full of hope.
Imperfect mercy
I realized that in both stories, Jesus was open and vulnerable enough to allow others to call him to mercy. In the end, when it came to choosing mercy or sticking with his original plan, Jesus did not dig his heels in based on his own sense of the “right time” or the “right people.”
Young sisters giving voice to mercy
Last weekend was my first time attending the Giving Voice 20’s/30’s retreat in Phoenix, Arizona... As we began to unfold what the theme “Contemplating the Mystery of Mercy” meant to each of us, the sisters around the circle shared stories about learning mercy from those they ministered with, struggles to have mercy for themselves, and the simple but challenging calls to mercy in the ins and outs of community life.
Habit forming dialogue
"In light of recent acts of violence around the world and expressions of fear and intolerance in our own country, I find in this experience a small circle of light, a glimmer of hope. Among my peers, I found genuine concern, a desire for understanding, thoughtful questions, and an ability to embrace the gift of our diversity. I experienced in a small way the big potential that exists for men and women religious to model dialogue..."
Foundation day through a young sister’s eyes
Sister Dina Bato, a woman in formation with the Sisters of Providence, shares what Foundation Day means to her. In Sister Dina's words, “Mother Theodore brought all of who she was into this mission. That’s what we’re called to do.”
Our Lady of Providence Shrine celebrates 90 years
Learn how Jesus mother Mary came to be honored under the title of Our Lady of Providence, Queen of the Home, in a shrine at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Every day an adventure for Sister Betty Smigla
“It’s overwhelming that another human being from another county who is in need puts so much confidence in us. But that’s a blessing. I’m not a psychologist, I’m not a doctor, but I have a good gut. I build them up. They leave a little more energized, a little more peaceful, knowing at least someone was there to listen to them,” says Sister Betty Smigla of her ministry as a “compañera” to Spanish-speaking clients seeking help navigating complex social systems in Chicago.