
- About
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Love, mercy, justice
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are a community of vowed Catholic women religious. Inspired by our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, we are passionate about our lives of prayer, education, service and advocacy.
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- Justice
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Break boundaries, create hope
Spirituality and justice go hand-in-hand. We are committed to walking with those on the margins. Join us on our journey to make Earth better for all.
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- Be inspired
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What inspires you?
We all need a little spiritual inspiration sometimes. Let the wisdom of our Providence Community support you on your journey.
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- Visit
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Experience the Woods
From the moment you step onto the grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, you know you're somewhere special. There's something for everyone at the Woods.
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- Get involved
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Where do you fit in?
Reconnect or find new opportunities with the Providence Community. Volunteer in one of our many ministries, be an intern on the farm, explore job opportunities or reminisce about your alma mater.
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- Join
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Join the Providence Family
Live joyfully! Single, Catholic women ages 18-42 are invited to explore a fulfilling life as a Sister of Providence. All women and men of faith are invited to join the family of Providence as Providence Associates.
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- Prayer Requests
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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

Holy and profane
It’s not often that I spend time with my extended family in public. Sometimes, these interactions remind me how differently much of the world views Catholic sisters compared to my experience.
This weekend, I went to my cousin’s high school graduation party. Partway through the party, one of my uncles started asking me to bless him. Another made a comment about spending time with me to become holy by association.

The gift of Earth: a prayer moment
Challenges for the week to tend to the gift of Earth:
• Spend time in nature;
• Look out for life, human and other, in your little patch of the world;
• Live compassionately toward all God's creatures;

Sisters serving their country
On Monday, May 29, during Mass, the Sisters of Providence will honor the Sisters who have served their country during times of war

I’ll meet you in the field: the spirituality of coming together
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is
too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the
phrase each other doesn’t make any sense. — Rumi
Sister Ann Sullivan reflects on the spirituality of coming together across divides.

Spring cleaning, spiritual cleaning
The dawning of spring invites us to a spiritual cleaning, as well. Time to clear out and make space for a new way of being in the world. The choices are many:
• To be attentive or to be distracted
• To be blessing or to be blaming

There are so many things to love!
"It's a deep, deep going inside yourself to find out who God is calling you to be." Providence Associate Debbie Dillow tells what she loves about being a Providence Associate of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in this video.

Where God walks: a poetic response to deeply spiritual places
There are places God has glanced
with lightest touch of hand, some swept,
palm to earth, and some in which God’s hand
sinks into soil like a sculptor’s hand in clay, that shout …

Earth Day: A Holy Day of Obligation
Our fragile Earth IS HOLY

You asked and we’re answering!
'Are you still a teaching order and where in the world do you go and what do you do there?'

Reflecting on Easter: ‘The stone has been rolled away’
Is there any greater joy than life overcoming death? Is there any greater longing than to find the stones of our lives rolled away?

Language barriers, smiles and unexpected gifts: Sister Denise Wilkinson reflects from France
I am getting to know each sister by paying attention to her expressions, her voice, her walk, her greeting of others. I notice her desire to communicate with me and her frustration at not knowing English.
Most of all I notice smiles. I didn’t expect smiles as comfort, joy, wordless compassion. Right now that’s what they are for me and I hope for the sisters I encounter.

‘Were you there when they crucified, my Lord?’
'Oh, it does cause me to tremble'
