
- 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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Sisters in Ministry
Our Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are passionate about serving God by caring for all God’s creation, especially those most in need. We serve in many ways, from education to social justice, parish ministry, hospital ministry, serving the economically poor, advocating for immigrants and for a healthy environment. Read how some of our sisters serve God and others through their ministries.

HOPE summer 2020 — The circle of giving
In this issue of HOPE magazine we focus on some of our "treasures of the Woods," or elder Sisters of Providence, and the meaningful lives of service they have offered.

Newsnotes
Awards and recognition, a new alpaca, loving support and more. Get the newest updates from the Sisters of Providence.

Sister Eileen Rose Bonner: A spiritual and emotional support to neighbors
Now she spends her retirement years preparing food for shut-ins, working with the parish bereavement committee and tutoring students in English as a second language.

Sister Donna Marie Fu: Called by God to serve a global church
Sister Donna Marie feels she experienced such a fulfilling life in answering her own call to offer her life to God. She continues to encourage that call in other young women. She regrets that political circumstances have prevented others from following a similar path.

Sister Kathleen Dede: Reaching out in love right where you are
Yes, our sisters minister wherever they are, long after they pass retirement age. Somehow, Providence leads them to critical unmet needs to which they can respond. For Sister Kathleen, it’s being a face of Providence in healthcare.

Sister Gloria Memering: Bringing the music
Until Sister Gloria’s retirement in 2011, all but five years were spent teaching music in schools and engaging in parish music ministry.

Sisters of Providence join Terre Haute’s peaceful Black Lives Matter protest
Three Sisters of Providence and two Providence Associates joined the Terre Haute community in speaking out against inequality on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Despite challenges of social distancing, we added our voices at the March for CommUNITY in Terre Haute, Indiana. Black Lives Matter! How are you adding your voice?

Teachers have a lasting impact
We thought this story shared by Sister Florence Norton illustrates how special the relationship with a teacher can be, even after many years!

What to pack for the journey
It was a powerful reflection writing what I would take and how I would say goodbye to those I loved.

Comfort from beauty
Also wanting to help others, I searched my soul. Stretching his idea of comfort from music, I thought of other arts: poetry, other writing, painting, and so on. Then it struck me: weaving!

Sister Dina Bato: What does it mean to you to be a Catholic Sister today?
I stay because I believe God in me is calling me to look for/be open to an abundance of possibility – to follow in our foundress’ footsteps and rely on the Providence of God for our needs and wisdom to utilize our gifts for the common good

A lifetime of meeting needs around the world and in our own backyard: Sister Patty Fillenwarth
She heard their stories of abuse, of problems with their children, of anxiety about their immigration status. Many of them needed professional counseling, but this was almost impossible for poor families who had no insurance and were struggling with English. Sister Patty came to see that her greatest missionary opportunity now was not in Africa, Peru or Taiwan, but in her own backyard.
