Celebrating at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana

When the staff and volunteers at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice celebrate Earth, they don't mess around!

The Sisters of Providence welcomed about 1,500 visitors to our beautiful home on April 21 for the 14th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Thank you to all who shared the day of fun, education and information with us.

The photos below show Silly Safaris live animal show; Sisters Mary Ryan, Marianne Mader and Mary Lois Hennel taking donations for baked goods; and the alpacas working the crowd. Please drop us a line in the comments below if you attended.

Photos by Paul Beel.

Earth Day is around the corner

The countdown has begun! It’s only 10 days until the Sisters of Providence welcome what they hope will be thousands of visitors to their home for the 14th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

Watch alpaca shearing demonstrations at the 14th Annual
Earth Day Celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. on
Saturday, April 21. Schedule at www.whiteviolet.org.

The staff members of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, have outdone themselves once again on planning what looks to be a full day of fun, learning and sharing.

Enjoy pedicab rides by Red’s Wagon Rides, live Celtic music by Women of Erin, a children’s area, a Silly Safaris live animal presentation, Mark Booth’s Take Flight! Wildlife presentation with live raptors, alpaca shearing demonstrations, a butterfly program by the naturalist at Dobb’s Park Nature Center, a bake sale by the Sisters of Providence, a One Planet Solar and Wind presentation, a Tai Chi class, a tour of the new greenhouse, a tour of the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies barn, lunch items by local restaurants, vendors selling their eco-friendly or handmade wares, and spinning and weaving demonstrations.

Sisters Jenny Howard, left, and Becky Keller volunteer at a
past Earth Day celebration at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

This is the first year an expired medications disposal area will be provided by Union Hospital of Terre Haute. Dumping drugs could potentially harm our drinking water and the environment; so please take this opportunity to dispose of them responsibly.

Click here for directions to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Click here for the Earth Day event schedule and other details.

If you plan to be with us on April 21, please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to!

Picture of the Week: April 23

In celebration of Earth Day on Thursday, Sister Terri Boland helps landscape the entrance to the grounds of the Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Providence Associates: video from our spring retreat

Providence Associates and Candidate-Associates experienced a powerful retreat this past weekend at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Hope and Healing for Earth was the topic of this retreat which coincided with the 12th Annual Earth Day. Sister Ann Sullivan, founding director of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, provided much food for thought. The prayers, songs and conversations provided a deepening of each retreatant’s spirituality.

A video from this retreat is below. If you can't view the video, please click here.

If you are interested in becoming a Providence Associate, click here.

Providence Associates retreat

This weekend, Providence Associates and Candidate-Associates have gathered at the Woods for their spring retreat, “Providence Spirituality: Hope and Healing for Earth.” On Friday evening after a time of reconnecting with one another and light refreshments, Sisters Mary Alice Zander and Diane Mason, director and assistant director respectively, welcomed everyone and then led everyone in a night prayer. This prayer helped retreatants to focus and meditate on the basic elements of all of creation: soil, fire, water and air. Pictured, Providence Associate Gary Meister of Indianapolis lights a candle, symbolizing the Light of Christ.

On Saturday, after prayer and a thought-provoking presentation by Sister Ann Sullivan on Providence Spirituality: Coming Home to Our Place, there was time for all to enjoy the 12th Annual Earth Day at the Woods. It was a picture-perfect day to enjoy God’s creation.

The retreat continues Saturday evening and Sunday morning. For more information about Providence Associates, click here.

Hope and healing for Earth

It's Friday, which means this time next week Saint Mary-of-the-Woods will be abuzz with the setting up of the 12th Annual Earth Day Celebration. Tents, a stage, and tables will go up in preparation for thousands of visitors to enjoy the Sisters of Providence's beautiful home in all of it's springtime glory.

We hope you plan to join us on Saturday, April 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lots of family fun, entertainment and learning.

More than 50 vendors will participate. There will be homemade soaps, spices, pet treats, jewelry, glass art, pottery, greeting cards, and food. Don't miss the opportunities to talk with representatives from Art Totality, La Leche League, Audobon Society, ISU Recycling, Dobb's Park Nature Center, Yurts of America, Terre Foods Cooperative Grocery, Sisters of Providence Volunteer Services, and Boy Scouts of America, just to name some.

Enjoy light lunch items from J. Ford's Black Angus, Market Bella Rosa, Harvest Bakery, Royer Meats and Kettle of Corn.

Take a ride on the horse drawn trolley, tour the strawbale house and the organic gardens, see the alpacas up close and watch an alpaca shearing demonstration at 1 p.m. For more details and the schedule go to www.WhiteViolet.org.

Hope to see you!

A look back at 2009

What happened in the Congregation in 2009? Well, many things! Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and the Congregation were honored with awards, the first-ever Saint Mother Theodore Guerin FEST was held and a brand new Web site was launched. The year also included many events that were shared with our friends, family and neighbors such as our Youth Art Contest, Earth Day and Family Day.

See the video below for a look at 2009!