Meet some newer members

Jessica Sun

From – I’m from northern Virginia near Washington, D.C.

Entrance date and age at time – I entered on Friday, September 4, 2026 and I’m 30-years-old.

Education/ministries since joining – I graduated from the Virginia Tech College of Engineering and worked full-time as a software engineer for five years before entering. Since becoming a postulant, I am blessed to have a wide variety of normal scheduled ministries here at the Woods. It is the highlight of my week to get to spend two days as a farmer at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, caring for our alpacas, chickens and organic produce. I also love my shifts volunteering at the Providence Food Pantry, and building relationship with the beautiful people who make up our Providence community through Mission Advancement. I gladly visit with sisters with driving to appointments, as well as visiting Providence Healthcare and Lourdes Hall whenever possible.

Interests and hobbies – As a local political advocate of eight years, resistance to war, racism and poverty is always close to my heart. Indeed, I cannot imagine practicing my faith without also seeking to prophetically witness in solidarity with the most vulnerable and oppressed in the current age, especially today in Palestine, Sudan and the Congo. Weightlifting, table tennis, volleyball and swimming are my favorite forms of exercise. Psychology and theology dominate my reading, with a special interest in Jungian-Christian dream work and shadow work. “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” is my favorite television show and “Iron Giant” is my favorite movie.

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence – I am deeply drawn to the charism of love, mercy and justice and am in awe of how the Sisters of Providence have continued to be open to the Spirit and change with the times. As the saying often attributed to Pope John the XXIII goes, “Tradition means protect the fire, not preserve the ashes.” I love that the sisters are unabashed in speaking out for God’s just peace and nonviolence in answering Jesus’ call to uplift and advocate for the infinite dignity of every human person, as well as the integrity of creation. I love the way the sisters love each other here, shown in a hard-won care, reciprocity and commitment that comes from continual taking in of feedback from all community members and acting upon it. The Sisters of Providence insistence is on continual, lifelong growth. Uniformity is not expected – authenticity, honesty and growth is. These sisters are committed to the justice that a true faith leads us to, and I can’t wait to join in this ongoing dance with God with them. Mother Theodore has become a beautiful, warm leader and mentor I can pray with and be led by. What gentle and great love!

Sister Maité Rodriguez-Mora

Hometown — San Juan, Puerto Rico

Entrance date and age at time — September 14, 2024, Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Education and work prior to entering — Before entering, I served as the Office Manager of the Abbey Guest Center at Conception Abbey in Conception, Missouri (Benedictine Monastery), Catechist for Evangelization and Bible Group at Our Lady of the Americas Parish at Des Moines, Iowa, as a volunteer.

Education/ministries since joining — During my postulant year, I have been serving at Mission Advancement, Providence Food Pantry and visiting the sisters in health care. Apart from receiving instruction in Providence Spirituality, Sisters of Providence Constitutions and education in the Inter-Community Pre-Novitiate about community living, discernment, Second Vatican Council among other themes.

Interests and hobbies — I am passionate about catechizing adults, Liturgy, calligraphy and traveling among other interests.

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence — One of the characteristics that attracted me to the Sisters of Providence was the joyfulness, learning of the charism of the love, mercy and justice clarified and cement my interest in the community.

Sister Ann Duong

Hometown – I was born in Vietnam and my hometown in America is St. Louis, Missouri.

Entrance date and age at time – I entered on September 14, 2024, and I was 43-years-old.

Education and work prior to entering – I have a bachelor’s degree in Family and Youth Development. I also graduated from the American School of Flower Design and have a couple of certificates in cooking, catechism and youth ministry. I am a preschool teacher, youth coordinator and floral designer. I have 15 years of work experience at Queen of Angels Daycare as a preschool teacher in Springfield, Missouri. I also taught preschool at St. Theresa Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, for one year. Moreover, I have 12 years of experience teaching as a catechist at St. Agnes Cathedral. In addition, I have been a youth leader for seven years in a Vietnamese parish. Furthermore, I have worked with various youth groups, Vietnamese and Americans, in various churches for 25 years. Moreover, I had a chance to coordinate many retreats and camps for different youth groups. Also, I have been a creative and well-organized person as a floral designer for different churches for 25 years. My style of arrangement varies from east to west. I have been volunteering to decorate at many churches. I have already decorated many events, funerals and weddings.

Education ministries since joining – I am volunteering at the food pantry, White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, Lourdes Hall, Guerin Park, Mission Advancement and many ministry sites in different places.

Interests and hobbies – I have many hobbies, such as arranging flowers, decorating, dancing, singing, playing piano, cooking and arts and crafts.

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence – I was attracted to religious life with the Sisters of Providence while I was engaged with them. I could see their lives as a living witness to be Christ’s heart, hand and feet to other people. The Sisters always want to reach out and help people. They live the charism of “Love, Mercy, and Justice,” to the best of their abilities and always find a way to improve it. Their love, prayers, community life, and ministries also attracted me and moved me when I decided to enter this community.

Sister Stephanie Rivas

Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas

Entrance date and age at time: Sept. 10, 2023; 36 years old

Education and work prior to entering: Bachelor’s in business management; master of education in early childhood. I’ve worked in a variety of areas from education, to working with babies, to special education with children and adults, to the enrollment process in higher education, to accompanying others on their spiritual journeys.

Education/ministries since joining: discerning that now

Interests and hobbies: music: listening to, singing and learning instruments; art: drawing, painting, coloring, art journaling; reading; watching movies; laughing; being outdoors

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence? What attracted me to the Sisters of Providence was their authenticity, humor, acceptance. The Sisters have always been authentic in witnessing their faith. Faith for the Sisters of Providence is not just praying in a chapel, but praying outside with alpacas, with a leaf or by water, or doing a meditation about food before we eat a meal. Not only is the authenticity present in their lives, but it happens daily in our conversations about mental health, work, social justice issues, how we take care of the earth and spirituality. What stood out for me about humor was during our Come and See retreat, one of the Sisters mentioned about laughing in community which I hadn’t heard before on other vocation retreats. Also, when I visited we cooked in Providence Hall and we would dance. Lastly, acceptance of mind, spirit and body. Vividly I remember coming downstairs to the dining hall and one of the sisters tells me, “There you are! Beautiful as ever!” I received that comment with love in my t-shirt, hat and jeans, on my way to work cleaning alpaca fiber for a few hours. 

Sister Leslie Dao

Hometown: I was born in Viet Nam. I grew up in California and most recently lived in St. Louis.

Entrance date and age at time: Sept. 21, 2021; 44 years old

Education and work prior to entering: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology; Bachelor of Science in Social Work; ministered as a pastoral associate for the Immigrant & Refugee Ministry in St. Louis

Education/ministries since joining: Volunteer at Food Pantry and Providence Health Care

Interests and hobbies: crafts, puzzles and caring for indoor plants

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence? The charism and the welcoming and joyful spirit.

Sister Emily TeKolste

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana

Entrance date and age at time: Sept. 7, 2016; Age 28

Education and work prior to entering: bachelor’s degree in sociology from Xavier University; worked in farm-based education, nonprofit management, nannying, entrepreneurship and publishing (web content development)

Education/ministries since joining:
Living in formation community, volunteer ministry in Sisters of Providence Mission Advancement office and as an activities volunteer at Providence Health Care, volunteer at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, teaching sociology and religion at a Catholic high school. Currently a community organizer at NETWORK Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C.

Interests and hobbies: social justice, reading, soccer, running, yoga, writing, TV

What attracted you to religious life with the Sisters of Providence? Relationship. I got to know the Sisters of Providence while living with Sister Tracey Horan before she joined the community, and through her met many other Sisters of Providence. I saw the life and joy sisters exuded and how much fun they had. I saw many sisters engaged deeply with issues that I also care deeply about. And I experienced them calling me to live more deeply within myself – whether it was with them or not.