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.
Registry records every woman who has entered the Congregation
Since Nov. 9, 1840, every woman who has entered the Sisters of Providence has had her name recorded in one of two entrance books that are kept in the Congregation’s Archives. Now, thanks to our partnership with the Indiana Historical…
Entrance book digitally preserved
The staff members of the Sisters of Providence Archives are making sure that all people, wherever they are located in this world, can have access to many of the Congregation’s records by digitizing them. The staff members are also trying…
Providence Hall: Sharing memories in video
Sometimes, a story is best heard from the storyteller. Since that’s not always possible, we are sharing some of the best stories we can find about Providence Hall on video. Here are some videos about the background of Providence Hall,…
SPs and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Last week, I spent several days on a Civil War pilgrimage to Gettysburg, Antietam, Harper’s Ferry and Manassas. On our way to Antietam (also known as Sharpsburg, Md.), we stopped at an awesome museum in Frederick, Md. — the National…
Women’s History Month: English as a Second Language
“The Eighth American Saint” describes how the French sisters learned English after arriving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in October of 1840: “Sister Theodore made ready to greet the new postulants as best she could in her few words of English. One…
The Other Five: A brief look at the lives of the sisters who came from France in 1840 with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin
Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, has a feast day. She has sainthood, receiving the highest honor bestowed by the Catholic Church. Her legacy has been shared worldwide. She is well recognized as…
Women’s History Month: Such speed!
“The Eighth American Saint” describes the railroad experience of Mother Theodore and her traveling companions: “They rode to Philadelphia on the South Amboy and Camden Railroad, opened only a few years before, the first rail route between New York and…
Women’s History Month: God chooses the humble
Like any human, Saint Mother Theodore had her doubts about her upcoming mission to the New World. “The Eighth American Saint” describes her feelings: “What chiefly troubled her [Saint Mother Theodore] about this new mission was that its success or…
Women’s History Month: Thank goodness she said no!
Prior to her entrance into the Sisters of Providence of Ruillé, France, Anne-Thérèse Guerin (aka Saint Mother Theodore) did have a few suitors. “The Eighth American Saint” describes an encounter between Anne-Thérèse and one young man: “‘I feel I must…
Letters from the battlefield
As we rapidly approach the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Wabash Valley Visions & Voices is putting the final touches on a special collection celebrating and remembering the War Between the States or the War of…
A place for prayer
This article is reprinted from the winter 2011 issue of HOPE. The sisters who will be returning “home” to Providence Hall once the renovation is complete will also return home to a small, renovated chapel located on the second floor.…
You never know what you’ll discover
You never know what topic will be addressed on the Wabash Valley Visions & Voices blog. Take for instance the latest post. It’s a 1905 photograph of the Allen Chapel AME Choir in Terre Haute, Ind. This photo is part…