
- About
-
-
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.
-
-
- Justice
-
-
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.
-
-
- Be inspired
-
-
What inspires you?
We all need a little spiritual inspiration sometimes. Let the wisdom of our Providence Community support you on your journey.
-
-
- Visit
-
-
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.
-
-
- Get involved
-
-
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.
-
-
- Join
-
-
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.
-
-
- Prayer Requests
- Contact us
- Donate

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.

Palm Sunday
My question to Jean Brown, our administrative assistant: “If you had to write a reflection on Palm Sunday, what would you write?” Her instant response: “I’d start with the palms.” My response to her: “ Why palms?” Jean’s reply set…

Let the winter go: a prayer ritual
Depart from our lives, deadening spirit of winter.
Response: Go, winter, go!
Be gone, all ice, sleet, and cold in our personal lives: snide remarks, judgmental statements, cruel jokes, nasty gossip, untruthful comments, fear, anger, jealousy.
Response: Go, winter, go!
Be gone, times of loneliness and harshness.
Response: Go, winter, go!

A call to discernment
Tracey Horan on life as a postulant

Living as a young nun
Sister Anji Fan reflects on her discernment

When I’m rich: Providence dreams in the Desert
A few days ago, Leticia, one of Sister Loretta’s students here at Providence in the Desert, said to Sister Loretta, “When I’m rich, I want to have a car like yours.”

Life lessons from Ebony
'Leave this world a better place for our having been in it'

How relics became meaningful
Sister Paula Damiano shares her experience with relics and how they became more meaningful to her.
10 ways to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life!
The Sisters of Providence suggest 10 ways for you to participate in the Year of Consecrated Life, named by Pope Francis, beginning Nov. 30, 2014 to Feb. 2, 2016.

A call to change
There are many things from which we can fast — irreverence, exploitation, and control, for example. I heard some options several years ago that bear repeating: We can choose to fast from having the last word, or fast from holding on to a past hurt or memory. We can fast from always being right so that we can hear and hold sacred the truth of another.

Grateful for the gifts of each day
The days have gently slipped by, and I have only a few more weeks with my loving sisters in this small village on this beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
We walked, climbed, and gazed, almost always in the hot sun. To enter into the area around any of the shrines, one had to remove shoes and hat, which meant that one was even more vulnerable to the blazing sun and the hot paving stones and sand that surrounded the shrines. At the end of each day, we were exhausted but grateful for its gifts.

Poetry: A tree in winter
In the wintertime of my soul
barren branches stand stark
clothed in heaviness of ice
bestowed by winter night storm.

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.
