Stories about

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.

Reflections

Valentine’s Day 2011

My cousin’s son and his wife have a son, Jack Alfred. (At family gatherings, use of his middle name is required to distinguish him from his cousin Jack Louis.) In my lamentably too few encounters with Jack Alfred, I find…

Reflections

Be merry: Christmas reflection 2010

I have a fondness for the word “merry.” For years, my Christmas card complementary closing has been “Be merry!” What am I encouraging with this sign-off? “Merry” is defined as: full of fun and laughter; lively and cheerful; mirthful; conducive…

Reflections

The Days of Our Waiting – Advent 2010

I find myself very taken with these ideas taken from Judy Cannato’s lovely book Field of Compassion: One way to speak of the Christian story is to say that God is always doing something more. Incomprehensible holy mystery is always…

Reflections

Saying thank you: Thanksgiving 2010

How many times have we witnessed (or participated in) this scenario? An adult hands something to a small child and a parent says to the little one, “What do you say?” The expected response? Thank you! We all know the…

Reflections

Day of the Dead — All Souls Day

My least favorite explanation for anything is that’s just the way it is. I can instantly feel the resistance rise up inside me. Reflection over the years has brought me to the realization that I resist the statement of fact…

Features, Reflections

Foundation Day – Oct. 22, 2010

Happy Foundation Day! Happy 170th anniversary of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College! In the name of the Sisters of Providence and our Providence Associates, I extend a warm welcome to all present here…

Sister Denise Wilkinson
October 22, 2010
Reflections from Sister Denise, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

Reflections

Gratitude – Thanksgiving 2009

It’s a rare thanksgiving season that I don’t hear my grandma’s oft-repeated admonition to us for any breach of good behavior. “Don’t be such an ingrate.” My mother’s corrections were much more behavior specific. “Don’t be fresh.” “Stop bickering.” “Be…

Features, Reflections

How to become a saint – Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s Feast Day 2009

Many of us here remember the safe landing of US Airways Flight # 1549 into the Hudson River this past January. A total of 155 persons aboard — no lives lost; pilot and crew performing gracefully and competently under the…

Sister Denise Wilkinson
October 5, 2009
Reflections from Sister Denise, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

Reflections

Principles of non-violence

Paging through the newspaper the other day, I came across an interview with Ambassador Andrew Young, a close associate of Martin Luther King, Jr. The interviewer asked Young many questions about his early days in the civil rights movement. Young’s…

Sister Denise Wilkinson
May 3, 2009
Racial Equality & Equity, Reflections from Sister Denise

Reflections

O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? – Easter 2009

Whenever I stumble upon this passage from 1 Corinthians 15, I have the same knee-jerk reaction: I can go with the victory part; but death does sting. When a loved one dies, sensations of loneliness, loss, grief — sometimes even…

Reflections

Honor Divine Providence

This article is reprinted from the winter 2009 issue of HOPE. Of the many gifts membership in the Congregation bestows on us, a commitment to life-long learning is among the most valuable. This commitment extends not only to professional education…

Sister Denise Wilkinson
January 26, 2009
Providence Spirituality, Reflections from Sister Denise

Love, mercy, justice

Break boundaries, create hope

What inspires you?

Experience the Woods

Where do you fit in?

Join the Providence Family