Welcome Providence Associate candidates of 2014

A new band of Providence Associate candidates started their year-long process of sharing and discerning on Oct. 11, 2014. 32 women and two men have begun the journey toward a deeper relationship with the Sisters of Providence. Each will journey one-on-one with a companion, either a Sister of Providence or a Providence Associate, over the next year.

Candidate Cathy Allen and her companion Sister Rita Clare Gerardot join in song during Mass.

Companions join in blessing the new candidate-associates during the orientation Mass.

Break time! Both Sister of Providence Ellen Cunningham and Candidate Cathleen Flynn check in on their phones during a break time at orientation.

Candidate associates stand for a blessing in the Church of the Immaculate Conception during their orientation.

Candidate Heather Smith of South Bend, Indiana, the “self-proclaimed president of the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin fan club” shows off her fingernails attesting to her claim.

Candidates join for prayer in the chapel room of the new shrine to Saint Mother Theodore Guerin during an orientation sneak-preview of the nearly completed shrine.

Candidate-associates and their companions embrace during the sign of peace at the orientation Mass.

Sister and Providence Associate companions join hands in prayer with Providence candidate-associates during Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Candidate-associates and their companions spend time getting to know one another in Reilly auditorium, Owens Hall during their orientation.

A candidate views the displays in the shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

Sister Ellen Kehoe, companion to Providence Candidate-Associate Betty Sloan of Indian Head Park, Illinois.

Candidate-Associates pause to pray at the tomb of Saint Mother Thodore Guerin in her new shrine at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sisters Dawn Tomaszewski and Diane Mason lead a sneak-preview tour of the nearly completed shrine of Saint Mother Theodore during the Providence Candidate-Associate orientation.

Providence Candidate-Associate Wallene Swentko of Hammond, Indiana, begins the year-long journey toward becoming a Providence Associate with her Sister of Providence companion Sister Evelyn Ovalles, right.