Stories from the Archives
Often, some of the most interesting pieces of history are lost in time. These inviting stories are drawn from the Sisters of Providence Archives and the memories of sisters and friends. They feature the many people and places instrumental in the Sisters of Providence history.
Congregation ministries and sponsored institutions
Historical photos of past Sisters of Providence ministries.
Historical sketches of the Woods
The Sisters of Providence are fortunate to have had several artists in the Congregation to help give future generations a sense of what the motherhouse and its grounds looked like in the 1800s. These sketches, by sisters as well as…
Treasures from Archives: Foley Hall Elevator
Foley Hall conjures many memories for many people. For those of us who never had the privilege of seeing this magnificent edifice, old photographs help us to imagine what an awesome structure Foley must have been. Another way in which we…
Remembering Sister St. Francis Xavier
After the arrival of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her companions to the Woods in October of 1840, the small Congregation was beset with many losses and trials. One of the most grievous and personal losses to Saint Mother Theodore was the…
Treasures from Archives: Marleau-Hercules Fence Co.
Back in the far recesses of Archives is a wonderful archival box filled with tantalizing details about the convent cemetery. One of the items that caught my attention was the bill for the wrought iron gate at the entrance of the cemetery.…
A beautiful time
This article first appeared in the winter 2012 issue of HOPE. They left Indiana in a snowstorm. A day later, Sisters Kathleen Therese O’Connor (RIP), Monica Withem (RIP) (formerly Sister Patricia Ann) and Agnes Veronica Hester (RIP) arrived in a…
Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s original log cabin church nears completion
Do you want to pray? Do you want to experience a little history? Do you want to sit quietly in a peaceful, natural place? The new old cabin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods might be just the place for you. The Sisters…
Angels of mercy: Civil War service of the sisters
Reprinted from the fall 2011 issue of HOPE. “Cloistered by the majestic forest, the Convent and the Academy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods in 1860 would seem to have been too remote, too securely enclosed, to hear the rumblings of the approaching…
The wisdom of Saint Mother Theodore: Letter to Sister Maria
Letter from Saint Mother Theodore to Sister Maria in Madison, Ind. Nov. 11, 1853 “My dear Sister: “Sister Basilide having written to let me know the number of hours that each of you was occupied in teaching, I told her…
Mother Theodore & Taillard
On today’s feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the great animal lover, many people around the world give a special blessing to their pets. You might not know that Mother Theodore herself had a pet, an extraordinary little dog named…