Who are the Providence Associates?

“A Providence Associate is someone who is in relationship with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Relationship here includes all the characteristics one would associate with that word — love, support, help with one another’s needs, interest in one another’s interests — all this while maintaining one’s own individuality. Associates are truly an integral part in the community of the Sisters of Providence.”

— Marilyn Webb, Providence Associate, Brownsburg, Indiana

Is God calling you to something more as a Providence Associate?

We Providence Associates are a diverse group of people of faith (ages 18 and older) who choose to enter into deeper relationship with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Currently more than 300 Providence Associates hail from throughout the United States and from Taiwan. We come from many walks of life and from varying faith traditions. Our community welcomes members regardless of gender, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, disability or socioeconomic background. Some of us have known the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for many years. Others have more recently come to know the sisters. We all share a common desire for something more. A deeper spirituality or a united sense of mission. A community for support or a spiritual place to call home.

A Providence Associate spends a year getting to know the community better as a candidate-associate. We then make commitments for one, three or five years at a time, and can renew thereafter. As an associate, each of us offers our own unique gifts and talents to the world in union with the Sisters of Providence and their mission of prayer, education, service and advocacy. We each choose our own commitments according to their life situations and gifts.

As Providence Associates we are offered opportunities for spiritual and communal growth through retreats, events, programs, small sharing communities, volunteer opportunities and more.

“The Providence Associate relationship is one that develops and grows. It becomes defined as it is lived and takes shape as Providence guides it. What that relationship looks like depends upon the uniqueness of the associate’s life and circumstances.”

— Marilyn Rausch, Providence Associate