Preserving Life and Mission: the capital campaign to renovate Providence Hall

Providence Hall is the cornerstone and heart-center of the Sisters of Providence motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Retired sisters, who have spent a lifetime in service to others, live in this Providence Hall home and from there volunteer in our sponsored ministries in the West Terre Haute and Terre Haute area, and in various ministries on the grounds at the Woods.

They live their later years in meaningful, fulfilling ways — offering compassion, care and comfort wherever and however they can.

The retired sisters living at Providence Hall also lived there when they entered as postulants and novices, when large dormitories served as bedrooms. Living in Providence Hall as elders, however, presents a whole new set of challenges to these sisters whose youthful legs once navigated the long halls and staircases with ease and alacrity.

Our prayer and communal discernment over several years have led us to embark on a major renovation of this facility that has served generations of Sisters of Providence during the building's 120-year lifetime. The renovations will allow our sisters who are retired to live independently and comfortably even as they age into their late 70s, 80s and beyond, and to continue to be involved in our mission.

To achieve the renovation and restoration of this home to so many sisters, the Sisters of Providence in 2009 launched a Capital Campaign — Providence Hall: Preserving Life and Mission — with a goal of $6,000,000. We still have $379,350 to raise to reach our goal. You can help us reach the finish line by making a gift online.

A gift to the capital campaign honors Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her legacy of providing for her sisters, of continuing to minister to the needs of others — regardless of one’s health, age or physical limitations — and of planning wisely for the future. A gift honors the retired sisters and all those who have gone before us, who spent their lives in ministry to others. Finally, a gift to the capital campaign preserves the building’s 120-year-old history and architecture and will support values of restoration and reuse of precious resources.

Many of you have already contributed to the capital campaign for all of these reasons and we thank you. We have come so far with your support.

We do hope everyone will take the time to visit our website today and in the coming months to learn more about Providence Hall, the history, the sisters, the people who are making the renovation possible and how thankful we are. You'll hear stories about how your gifts are making an impact on the everyday lives of so many Sisters of Providence and helping to build a SP Logolegacy for the future.

If you wish to continue receiving Providence Hall updates, subscribe to our e-newsletter Providence Partners.