Become a Sister
Here you will find stories about some of our newest Sisters of Providence. You’ll read about some of our seasoned Sisters of Providence living out their ministries. And you’ll find stories and opportunities for discerning whether life as a Sister of Providence might be for you.
The Sisters of Providence go to St. Patrick School
Sisters discuss vocations with school's female students during National Catholic Schools Week
Young sisters giving voice to mercy
Last weekend was my first time attending the Giving Voice 20’s/30’s retreat in Phoenix, Arizona... As we began to unfold what the theme “Contemplating the Mystery of Mercy” meant to each of us, the sisters around the circle shared stories about learning mercy from those they ministered with, struggles to have mercy for themselves, and the simple but challenging calls to mercy in the ins and outs of community life.
Co-creating the future with God
Let us be more intentional in allowing Providence to actively engage in our lives. More present to how we are called to co-create in this time of distrust, cultural animosity, economic crisis and increasing violence.
Habit forming dialogue
"In light of recent acts of violence around the world and expressions of fear and intolerance in our own country, I find in this experience a small circle of light, a glimmer of hope. Among my peers, I found genuine concern, a desire for understanding, thoughtful questions, and an ability to embrace the gift of our diversity. I experienced in a small way the big potential that exists for men and women religious to model dialogue..."
Sister Joni becomes who God created her to be as a Sister of Providence
“You enter community and spend three years learning who you are,” Sister Joni said. “The masks that we build start to peel away and you become the person God created you to be.” In her new ministry Sister Joni is reconnecting Saint Patrick School in Terre Haute with the Sisters of Providence, the order that founded the school in 1882.
Foundation day through a young sister’s eyes
Sister Dina Bato, a woman in formation with the Sisters of Providence, shares what Foundation Day means to her. In Sister Dina's words, “Mother Theodore brought all of who she was into this mission. That’s what we’re called to do.”
Baking with Sister Ann Kevin O’Connor
The novice rolls Sister Ann Kevin into the kitchen in her wheelchair and helps her put on an apron. Sister Ann Kevin goes straight to the recipe on the table and gets right to making suggestions about how to begin. It’s obvious she’s in her element. Sister Ann Kevin shares her wisdom, her life stories and her love of baking with Novice Sister Tracey Horan.
Music lessons with Sister Regina Marie
As a new Sister of Providence, Sister Joni saw how important music was to her sisters. She wanted to make sure she honored the rich history of music that dates back to Saint Mother Theodore’s time.
“I wanted to be able to join in the traditional songs and capture the passion the sisters have when they sing.”
Running in the dark
Sister Tracey reflects on the experience of running in the dark and what it teaches her about community: "As silly as I knew my fear of the dark was...the knowledge of other bouncing lights was so hopeful to me in those pre-dawn moments."
Voice lessons in discernment
Our goal in letting go and re-learning how to breathe was to set the vocal chords free to do what they do best: express my natural, God-given voice. After just two voice lessons, I am amazed at how much the process of singing freely parallels and embodies the process of freeing the soul to discern. I invite you to explore these observations with me and how they might apply to your spiritual path at this place, in this time.
Sister Anna Fan hopes that as a novice, her “spiritual life can grow deeper and wider”.
Editor’s note: Sister Anna (Tsai Ping) Fan entered her Canonical Novice year with the Sisters of Providence on Aug. 2. She requested of the Congregation, “I ask to be accepted into the Novitiate to deepen my formation into the charism…