Sister Tracey Horan

Sister Tracey Horan

Sister Tracey Horan is a Sister of Providence in formation. She professed first vows in 2017. She is a former intern at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence. She currently ministers as education coordinator at the Kino Border Initiative/Iniciativa Kino para la Frontera where she works with an education team to coordinate and host individuals and groups for immersions to the U.S./Mexico border in order to engage participants on the current reality of migration.

Running in the dark

Sister Tracey reflects on the experience of running in the dark and what it teaches her about community: "As silly as I knew my fear of the dark was...the knowledge of other bouncing lights was so hopeful to me in those pre-dawn moments."

  • 8

Voice lessons in discernment

Our goal in letting go and re-learning how to breathe was to set the vocal chords free to do what they do best: express my natural, God-given voice. After just two voice lessons, I am amazed at how much the process of singing freely parallels and embodies the process of freeing the soul to discern. I invite you to explore these observations with me and how they might apply to your spiritual path at this place, in this time.

  • 6

On policing and Providence

Sister Pat, a volunteer with the Chicago Police Department on the south side of the city, says this is not the first time she has taken a non-traditional path. “It’s another way to be God’s presence in the community,” says Sister Pat Mahoney of her many years working as a community volunteer with her local police station in Chicago.

Celebrating National CSA Sign-Up Day

Our motley crew is excited about the upcoming CSA season starting in May! In celebration of National CSA Sign-Up Day on Feb. 28, check out some of my favorite ways to use fruits and veggies from our very own White Violet garden. Tacos with pickled peppers, roasted root veggies, kale smoothies, roasted eggplant and tomato soup ...

  • 2

French fries with a fork: yes — crossed legs: no

Recently, a Sisters of Providence communications staff member unearthed a “Sisters of Providence Etiquette” booklet in our archives and proudly brought her find to my desk. Dated 1968, the booklet gives detailed instructions on how a Sister of Providence should look, sound and act in a variety of situations, from car rides to meal times to classrooms and even Superiors’ offices.

  • 7

Baptism by horseback

“I call it my first horseback ride,” Sister Marceline Mattingly (82 years a Sister of Providence) said of her adventurous journey to baptism. Marceline went on to describe the scene that day — 99 years ago this very week. The only way to cross the creek to get to the church was via a plank bridge that could only hold a horse with one rider. It was decided that her grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Hall, would be the one to take her across the creek on horseback to be baptized at St. Peter’s Church in Waverly, Kentucky. The plot thickens as grandfather Benjamin balances a baby on horseback and encounters name confusion on the other side of the creek...

  • 9