Providence Spirituality
“The God of Providence carries the entire mystery of the divine, ever trustworthy, never failing. The God of Providence offers all the possibilities for ourselves and the world, including both what God wants to happen and what God is willing to let happen because God honors the gift of human freedom. The choices are ours — truly free, but ever grounded in the grace of God, the Holy Mystery of Providence, about which there is ever more to be discovered.” – Sister Ruth Eileen Dwyer
Christmas Reflection 2015
Then I came upon a news story titled “Good Samaritan Rescues Mom at Airport.” This news story led me to the movie It’s A Wonderful Life featuring the angel Clarence Odbody. Those of us old enough to remember this film gained valuable life lessons by watching George Bailey struggling with doubt because of his lack of success in life.
Gaining insight on Our Lady of Providence
'But it is through many years of praying the rosary daily, reflecting anew each morning on the Mysteries appropriate for that day, that I’ve gained some insight into how Mary served, and still serves, as Our Lady of Providence. Although most of the Mysteries have served that purpose, a few have been special sources of inspiration for me.'
2015 Senior Jubilee Reflection
Twenty-One Sisters Celebrated Senior Jubilees Tuesday, Dec. 8
Mercy
The Sisters of Providence and our Providence Associates have a natural affinity for The Holy Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. This Holy Year begins December 8, 2015 and ends November 20, 2016. Pope Francis states in his proclamation…
A Providence Advent Calendar
The Providence Advent calendar here begins with the first Sunday of Advent and uses quotes of Sisters of Providence (SP) and Providence Associates (PA) found on the SP website and in other PA and SP materials. May it help you enter into this season with reflections and actions for each day of Advent! You might want to keep an Advent journal to capture your reflections.
In the moment
This holiday season let’s look around us. Let’s open our hearts and look deeply into our world, into its heartbreak. Let’s look into the eyes of our loved ones and let them know we love them.
Compassion for Earth
“Conference of the Parties,” organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will take place in Paris from Nov. 30-Dec. 11
Thanksgiving Reflection
If you Google “thanksgiving day” as I did, be prepared for a wide variety of articles, Wikipedia entries and “further references.”
Becoming a Providence Associate
“Every step of the process from orientation to meeting my companions to the year of study has affirmed that Providence, though unexpected and unbidden, is alive and well and welcome in my life. The Sisters of Providence are an amazing order of women religious. I have found camaraderie, companionship, compassion, laughter and wisdom in each one I have met. I want to be like them when I grow up.” Beth Weis, Chicago, Illinois. 26 new Providence Associates of the Sisters of Providence made first commitments last Saturday. They share some of that journey here in their own words.
My friends, the saints
We are used to thinking of saints in the past tense. It seems incredible that saints might walk among us today, but they do. What do they do that the rest of us don’t? Not much, really. Sainthood is less a way of doing than a way of being. As Mother Theodore said, “Let us never forget that if we wish to die like the Saints, we must live like them. "
Reinventing ourselves as Sisters of Providence
So, I ask myself, why would I want to retire when there are still so many possibilities of God’s Providence yet to enjoy just beyond the next horizon? It’s a no-brainer – I will just keep on listening to God’s invitations and saying “yes!”
On spirituality and aging
Our spirituality is about living our experience of God. We do not “change” spirituality and put on a different one for aging, a different one for work. We don’t change spirituality like we change clothing. Living our experience of God is influenced by each of our temperaments. By our social, financial, educational, denominational and cultural context. And that experience of God, that spirituality, affects our daily living.
