Sister Janice Smith

Sister Janice Smith was born and raised in Baltimore, “in the Polish neighborhood of Locust Point, just blocks away from Fort McHenry – home of the writing of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ by Francis Scott Key.”

She is the eldest of nine children, and attended Catholic and public schools while growing up.

Sister Janice graduated from the University of Maryland, receiving a bachelor’s degree in ancient studies. She also earned a master’s degree in classical studies at The Ohio State University.

She taught in the public school system in Ohio for eight years before moving to Southern California, changing her career path and working as a technology instructor at Hewlett-Packard for seven years before becoming the district manager of Customer Education for Southern California and the Rocky Mountain States for an additional seven years.

During that time, Sister Janice decided to “change my life path once again and entered religious life as a Sister of Providence.”

She entered the Congregation on September 14, 2000. Her first vows took place in 2003 and final vows in 2008.

Her first ministry with the Congregation was as Director of Adult Faith Formation at San Francisco Solano Parish in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. She also ministered as a technology teacher at St. Sylvester’s Elementary/Middle School in Chicago before serving as Campus Minister and Theology Teacher at Guerin Prep High School. She also taught Bible as Literature and English Language classes at Providence University for two years. She was the Director of Mission Novices for the Congregation.

Her favorite food is steamed blue shell crabs from Maryland with “Maryland Silver Corn-on-the-Cob, Eastern Shore watermelon and a good cold beer during the summer in Baltimore.”

She also enjoys watching the Baltimore Orioles and actually caught a fly ball once at a night game.

Currently, she works in prison ministry with inmates at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute.