Reflections from Sister Denise
Sister Denise Wilkinson was the general superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 2006 to 2016. As a gifted writer and speaker, she is often called upon to share her reflections. These are some of her writings.
Love’s faithfulness: Ash Wednesday & Valentine’s Day 2013
The proximity in dates of Chinese New Year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day has caused challenges in both my “employments” within our local community of Corbe House and in my writing assignments from our Director of Marketing and Communications. At…
Coming of age with Vatican II
On Sept. 12, 1963, the Sisters of Providence welcomed 58 of us as postulants. We arrived with a small black suitcase and a foot locker filled with a variety of personal supplies, regulation nightgowns, black stockings, nun shoes, men’s white…
Mary, our companion: New Year’s 2013
When we gather for Eucharistic liturgy on January 1, we will celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God. How appropriate to keep her in our view as we begin a new year! She has been our companion all during…
Light the candles! Christmas 2012
Like a dull ache, memory of the massacre of the children and adults of Sandy Hook School accompanies me everywhere and all the time these days. It’s one of those times when I have to keep reminding myself that more…
Senior jubilarians – 80 years and counting
Editor’s note: Reflection from Sister Denise Wilkinson, general superior, given on Dec. 8 during Eucharistic Liturgy to sisters, associates and visitors. While this message is specifically for the sisters celebrating their senior jubilee, the message resonates universally to all God’s…
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…
One continuous and continuing flow: All Saints and All Souls Days 2012
For some time now, the celebrations of All Saints and All Souls days have sort of morphed together in my mind, each feast blended into the other. The distinction between the two feasts has more or less disappeared for me.…
Asking questions: Feast Day 2012
A couple of years ago, two sisters provided me with something to smile over, puzzle about, and learn from. At the time, we Sisters of Providence were in the midst of making an important decision. As always, there were different…
Hope and healing for Earth: Earth Day 2012
Anyone who knows the Sisters of Providence and our Providence Associates knows of our commitment to hope and healing of Earth. We channel much of our energy in this regard through the ministry of White Violet Center for Eco-justice. However,…
Hardy harbingers of spring: Spring 2012
Yellow is one of the first colors of spring here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Bright and bouncy daffodils dot gardens and spring up in the middle of ravines and lawns. Yellow crocus dot tended gardens, small areas in our cemetery and…
Gracious, spacious and precious: Lent 2012
My mom had a devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua that went beyond asking him to find lost things. I have no idea where it came from or why he was special to her; but he was. She named my…
Valentine’s Day 2012
I know my grade school sisters referred to February 14 as Saint Valentine’s Day! Perhaps just to make certain that we knew there was a “holy” reason for the annual party in each classroom of Saint Mary of the Woods…