
- 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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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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Features
Welcome to our features page. Here, we will share with you updates on what is currently happening within our Congregation. Feel free to take time to explore the area.

Two sisters profess first, perpetual vows
Sister Arrianne Whittaker professes first vows; Sister Su-Hsin Huang professes perpetual vows

From foodie to environmentalist
“Being a foodie has made me an environmentalist,” she said. “I think that if you care about what you consume, you have to be mindful of the condition of our Earth on which it’s grown. I believe that carefully grown whole foods are the very basis of health. My greatest joys in life come when preparing and sharing great food with loved ones.”

Sister Barbara Reder
“I think our most important task is to become more and more like Jesus, and in that way to spread that to others. And you can’t do that without being fed. And the Eucharist is one of my prime ways of getting that nourishment,” says Sister Barbara Reder who currently ministers as a pastoral associate at St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg, Indiana.

The Helping Hands thrift store: making a difference a quarter at a time
An active group of volunteers act as God's helping hands providing for the local community in West Terre Haute, Indiana by way of a used clothing store. "I see miracles happen every day here," says Providence Associate Carole Stokes, a volunteer at The Helping Hands thrift store.

Poverty Justice Fund
Started in 1999, the Poverty Justice Fund has partnered with close to 100 organizations to assist the Sisters of Providence in their efforts to promote social justice and the integrity of Earth. There are many direct service organizations that help…

Sister Kathleen Bernadette Smith: Joyful collaboration in a prophetic mission
Sister Kathleen Bernadette Smith has ministered almost 20 years as a pastoral associate at St. Felicitas Parish in Chicago. She collaborates with parish staff, parishioners, local community leaders, archdiocesan and SP-led teams and committees to proclaim the Gospel in a joyful, prophetic way richly textured by her African-American spirituality.

In it together
“It was perfect,” Karen said. “It was Providence … it was clearly Providence that brought me here. I found my piece of home.”
Both Vicki Layton and Karen Sagraves said the “team” atmosphere while working with the Sisters of Providence is special.

Sister Kathleen Desautels: Collaborating for justice
For nearly three decades, Sister Kathleen Desautels (formerly Sister Mary Colleen) has been at the forefront of justice.
The rape and murder of four church women in El Salvador in 1980 was also part of her transformation. She spent time in Bolivia and in Nicaragua – witnessing social injustices – before finding her way to 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago.

Sisters of Providence collaboration timeline
Humans are creatures who remember. Can you remember fondly a time when you said or did something about which you feel an appropriate level of pride? How about those times that you recall with a tinge of sadness, because you acted in a way you now regret? Might it be possible to remember even those negative times with a sense of joy, because attitudes and opinions you held in the past have changed, you have grown, and now you view things anew and would behave differently? This timeline takes a look at Sisters of Providence and their journeys of collaboration through the years.

Providence: together as one creation
Coming together has the power to change us. We form new relationships, share ideas and resources, make new friends. Along the way we are often called to change our minds and our ways of doing things, writes Sister Nancy Nolan as she reflects on collaboration and Providence spirituality.
How I came to see Providence in this light is a story in collaboration itself.

Volunteering for your future
Mandy Lynch has always felt a need to help others. Last summer she volunteered with the Sisters of Providence and it was during this time that she found her passion for nursing home administration, leading her down a new career path.

Sister Janice Smith
Get to know Sister Janice Smith. In these video clips she tells about her life and ministry as a Sister of Providence and her life before becoming a Sister of Providence. She also talks about living the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and about the formation process for those becoming Sisters of Providence.
