
- 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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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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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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Eco-Spirituality
Ecospirituality has been defined as “a manifestation of the spiritual connection between human beings and the environment.” As members of one sacred Earth community, the Sisters of Providence have committed themselves individually and communally to care for our resources and to make decisions regarding their current and future use as they seek to balance their individual and SP communal economic needs with the sustainability needs of Earth community.

Poem: Human Violence
Tragic legacy
pervasive pattern repeating
itself through the ages
a rippling effect on relationship
at every level …

Mercy to Earth
Love, mercy and justice are central to the mission of the Sisters of Providence. The sisters have come to see that mission extending to all creation. As we focus on mercy in this issue of HOPE, several Sisters of Providence answer the question, “What is one way to show mercy to Earth?”

Spirituality, justice, love of fresh food fuel Providence Associate’s sustainable lifestyle.
“Living sustainably has always been a way for me to live out my spiritual life. I feel it has helped me connect the way I live day in and day out, hour to hour to the meaning of my life.”

Sustainability midst the bustle
How does one fit living an ecologically friendly lifestyle into the busyness of life? For Providence Associates Jennifer and Duane Drake, it’s about being gentle with themselves in the process.

Cherishing creation
"Our promise in this time is to be God’s loving care for all creation, to be one of the ways God sustains life. We desire to live in right relationship with our Earth and with all that dwells on Earth."

A living Land Ethic
True confessions of a former White Violet Center intern: staff meetings were sometimes a chance to daydream ... but when we met to hear more about the Sisters of Providence Land Ethic I quickly found that this would not be that kind of staff meeting. This was big.

Earth as home
(This article was originally published in the Summer 2013 edition of HOPE.) If you spend any amount of time with a Sister of Providence or a group of sisters, you will quickly learn that taking care of Earth as home…

Q and A: The new cosmology: a Providence perspective
This article is reprinted from the fall 2009 issue of HOPE. Editor’s note: In the previous article, “The new cosmology: an evolving universe,” Sister Jeanne Knoerle provides an overview of the new cosmology. In the following article, Sister Jeanne explores…

The new cosmology: an evolving universe
This article is reprinted from the fall 2009 issue of HOPE. How do you picture God? Pray to God? Understand God? Most of us move from childhood to adulthood thinking about God in ways appropriate to our age; yet there…

Caring for God’s gifts: the natural environment and faith
By Sister Ruth Eileen Dwyer From the very beginning humans have had a mutual relationship with the natural world that satisfied their needs and with the Creator as Source and Giver of life. Perhaps the most ancient of the names…
Care of Earth: an ascetical practice for our times?
This article is reprinted from the fall 2008 issue of HOPE. The dictionary tells us that our English word asceticism is derived from an ancient Greek noun meaning “an exercise, a practice or a training program which is entered into…
Practical ways to make a difference
This article is reprinted from fall 2008 issue of HOPE. Biomass, biodiesel fuel — these may be great for institutions, but how can individuals make an environmental difference? Sisters Florence Norton, Evelyn Ovalles and Mary Moloney share some practical ways…
