
- About
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Love, mercy, justice
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are a community of vowed Catholic women religious. Inspired by our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, we are passionate about our lives of prayer, education, service and advocacy.
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- Justice
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Break boundaries, create hope
Spirituality and justice go hand-in-hand. We are committed to walking with those on the margins. Join us on our journey to make Earth better for all.
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- Be inspired
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What inspires you?
We all need a little spiritual inspiration sometimes. Let the wisdom of our Providence Community support you on your journey.
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- Visit
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Experience the Woods
From the moment you step onto the grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, you know you're somewhere special. There's something for everyone at the Woods.
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- Get involved
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Where do you fit in?
Reconnect or find new opportunities with the Providence Community. Volunteer in one of our many ministries, be an intern on the farm, explore job opportunities or reminisce about your alma mater.
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Join the Providence Family
Live joyfully! Single, Catholic women ages 18-42 are invited to explore a fulfilling life as a Sister of Providence. All women and men of faith are invited to join the family of Providence as Providence Associates.
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Blog
Welcome to our blog. Here, we will share with you stories of our lives as Sisters of Providence. We invite Providence Associates to write in this space also. We hope you find these posts enjoyable and inspirational.

Mother Theodore & Taillard
On today’s feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the great animal lover, many people around the world give a special blessing to their pets. You might not know that Mother Theodore herself had a pet, an extraordinary little dog named…

First chapel to be re-created at SMW
No worries if you’re not a history buff. The re-creation of the first log cabin chapel at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods will still be cool. Several years in the making, an authentic replica of the chapel visited by Saint Mother Theodore and…

Registry records every woman who has entered the Congregation
Since Nov. 9, 1840, every woman who has entered the Sisters of Providence has had her name recorded in one of two entrance books that are kept in the Congregation’s Archives. Now, thanks to our partnership with the Indiana Historical…

SPs and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Last week, I spent several days on a Civil War pilgrimage to Gettysburg, Antietam, Harper’s Ferry and Manassas. On our way to Antietam (also known as Sharpsburg, Md.), we stopped at an awesome museum in Frederick, Md. — the National…

Women’s History Month: English as a Second Language
“The Eighth American Saint” describes how the French sisters learned English after arriving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in October of 1840: “Sister Theodore made ready to greet the new postulants as best she could in her few words of English. One…
Women’s History Month: Such speed!
“The Eighth American Saint” describes the railroad experience of Mother Theodore and her traveling companions: “They rode to Philadelphia on the South Amboy and Camden Railroad, opened only a few years before, the first rail route between New York and…

Women’s History Month: God chooses the humble
Like any human, Saint Mother Theodore had her doubts about her upcoming mission to the New World. “The Eighth American Saint” describes her feelings: “What chiefly troubled her [Saint Mother Theodore] about this new mission was that its success or…

Women’s History Month: Thank goodness she said no!
Prior to her entrance into the Sisters of Providence of Ruillé, France, Anne-Thérèse Guerin (aka Saint Mother Theodore) did have a few suitors. “The Eighth American Saint” describes an encounter between Anne-Thérèse and one young man: “‘I feel I must…

General Superior summons foundress to support new SMWC president
Sister Denise Wilkinson, general superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, offered the following comments during the announcement of a new president for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Dr. Dottie King. Dr. King had served as interim president for about…

Letters from the battlefield
As we rapidly approach the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Wabash Valley Visions & Voices is putting the final touches on a special collection celebrating and remembering the War Between the States or the War of…

You never know what you’ll discover
You never know what topic will be addressed on the Wabash Valley Visions & Voices blog. Take for instance the latest post. It’s a 1905 photograph of the Allen Chapel AME Choir in Terre Haute, Ind. This photo is part…

‘The little Indian of the northern Lakes’
“Here we see the little Indian of the northern Lakes becoming one of the Torch-bearers of Christian education in southern Indiana and a notable factor in the expansion of St. Mary-of-the-Woods.” Such are the words about the life of Mother…
