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
Be kind. It’s bumpy out there.
Evidently I had too much time on my hands while preparing to write about Random Acts of Kindness Day. I got to thinking: isn’t any act of kindness random — by definition? Kindness — according to Jesus — flows outward…
Sister Cathy Buster called “heart and soul” of new migrant farm family community in Arcadia, Fla.
As a realist, I don’t often get blown away, but in November 2012, when Sister of Providence Cathy Buster gave me a tour of Casa Juan Bosco in Arcadia, Fla., I experienced that feeling of being with someone who could…
Theological shifts with Second Vatican Council
Vatican II has not answered all questions, but it has provided an agenda for future theological development.
My most challenging and most transformative years
When the Second Vatican Council opened in 1962 I had just been appointed Director of Novices for our Congregation. This meant that I had accepted the responsibility of passing on to another generation the traditions, practices, prayer forms and life…
The Joy of Vatican II
(originally published in the winter 2013 issue of HOPE magazine) By Peg Benson Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli might justifiably be accused of being impulsive. He announced his intention to convene the Second Vatican Council on Jan. 25, 1959, as he waved…
Always count your blessings …
Sometime after my mom retired, she “got into” ceramics. She and her friends went to classes taught by a woman in my mom’s neighborhood. For the most part, they applied glazes to clay pieces of various shapes and sizes. Many…
“It’s those gates”
A musing on what happens when you enter the gates at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. It happened again. This time it was during the orientation of our newest candidates to become associates of the Sisters of Providence. There were about 50 of…
Why I love Mother Theodore
I’m not the kind of person who idolizes others, since nobody’s perfect; so I’ve acquired a habit of giving people I admire honorary status as one of my relatives. (You can love Great-Grandma without agreeing with everything she says at…
The power of this place
Why do people go to shrines and make pilgrimages? What happens to them while in the presence of a saint or sacred person? When I have asked several people why they came — why come to this shrine of Saint…
“The Sisters are always there”
Given the magnitude of the issues facing the Leadership Conference of Women Religious during its recent annual assembly Aug. 7-10 … Given the amazing presence and presentation of keynote speaker Barbara Marx Hubbard… Given the inspiring presidential address offered to…
Experiencing a deep and authentic unity
The following reflection is from the Sisters of Providence General Council: Sister Denise Wilkinson, Sister Lisa Stallings, Sister Jenny Howard, Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, and Sister Mary Beth Klingel. The April 2012 announcement of the Vatican’s doctrinal assessment of the Leadership…
From The Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin
The Sisters of Providence regularly receive prayer requests, as well as requests for relics and other Saint Mother Theodore Guerin information. Below is a list of some recent correspondence Sister Jan Craven has had with those in contact with The…