Arequipa, Peru, focus of new Heritage Museum exhibit

This piece of art, The Last Supper, is just one of the many artifacts and documents on display
in the new Heritage Museum exhibit in Providence Center.

In 1963, the Sisters of Providence responded to a request by Pope John XXIII to send religious to missions in Latin America. In March of that year, three Sisters of Providence left the Woods for Arequipa, Peru, where they ministered at the all-boys Colegio de San José.

A new exhibit in the Heritage Museum in Providence Center examines the Congregation’s service in Peru. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Recently, Sister Florence Norton, who ministered in Arequipa, sat down with Christina Blust, a staff member in the Office of Congregational Advancement and shared some of her memories about this exciting ministry for the winter 2012 issue of HOPE:

“One of these sister-missionaries was Sister Florence Norton (formerly Sister Thomas Ann). As a child, Sister Florence was taught in Sisters of Providence schools and grew up reading vibrant stories in the SP missionary publication ‘The Bugle Call.’ When, years later, Sister Florence herself landed to minister in a foreign land, she found herself surrounded by new animals (alpacas and vicuñas), a new climate (‘It was sunny every day!’), and people with big hearts, big hugs, and nothing but love for their Hermana (Sister),” wrote Christina in her article, “A beautiful time.”

The Heritage Museum is located in Providence Center and is open during the center's normal hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT), and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EDT).