Sisters of Providence in D.C. celebrate jubilee

The Archdiocese of Washington (D.C.) celebrated the 2009 jubilee of women religious in the area on March 6. Three Sisters of Providence who are in ministry in the diocese were invited to the celebration.

Sister Clelia Cecchetti, who sent us this information, said the celebration was originally scheduled for Feb. 7, but had to be postponed because of the "blizzard of 2010."

The Mass and dinner was held in the Chapel of the Pastoral Center. Archbishop Donald Wuerl was the main celebrant.

All three Sisters of Providence are pictured on the right. Sister Clelia is in the first row, second from the right; Sister Marie Denis Lucey is in the first row on the right; and Sister Marian Brady is in the second row on the right.

The photograph was taken by the Catholic Standard, the archdiocesan newspaper.

National Library Week

This week is National Library Week. Take advantage of this week by visiting your local library and checking out a book on Saint Mother Theodore Guerin or other pioneering women religious. Or, in honor of our Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 17, check out some books on conservation and/or the environment.

If you would like other suggested readings, check out the Sisters of Providence listing on goodreads by clicking here.

And last, but certainly not least, visit The Gift Shop at Providence Center for reading material! You can shop online by clicking here.

Quiet Directed Retreat May 6-10

This personally directed retreat provides the opportunity for time away from the usual activity of life to be quiet, to pray, to reflect and to experience the beauty of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

We have walking trails, gardens to enjoy or work in, and alpacas and bees.

The cost of $400 includes room, meals and daily spiritual direction. Check-in is 3-5 p.m. on May 6 and the retreat concludes with lunch at noon on May 10.

The registration deadline is April 22, so please register today. Contact Sister Maureen Freeman, CSJ, at 812-535-2930 or mfreeman@spsmw.org to register or for more information.

What is a Providence Associate?

Have you heard about the Providence Associate Relationship? Have you ever desired a closer relationship with the Sisters of Providence?

Providence Associates are women and men (at least 18 years of age) of diverse faith traditions who seek a formal relationship with the Sisters of Providence. Our associates come from across the United States and Taiwan.

Our application process for becoming a Providence Associate is now open. To learn how to apply, click here.

For more information about Providence Associates, click here.

Death of a president

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth (pictured at left). President Lincoln and his wife, Mary, were attending the play, Our American Cousin, at Ford’s Theatre. The president died at 7:22 a.m. the next morning.

WoodsUp.com (our children’s Web site) remembers this dreadful day in our nation’s history. To learn more about the assassination of Lincoln, click here.

For a few recommended young people’s novels on the Civil War, click here.

Daughters of the Forest exhibit

The Sisters of Providence welcome you to a new display called “Daughters of the Forest” which is now open in the Heritage Museum in Providence Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

The exhibit is created in honor of the Sisters of Providence who have had their motherhouse grounds beautifully enhanced by the natural surroundings of certified forest land for 170 years.

Many of the historical ways the Congregation formerly used the land, and the transition to current practices are emphasized in the displays.

To learn more about the exhibit and hours of operation, 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!

Providence Associates news & updates

The April 2010 issue of Providence Associates newSPaper is now available! In this issue you’ll learn more about Providence Associate Megan Quinlan, who hails from Roslindale, Mass. Megan shares how sustainable agriculture, conservation ecology and food justice are some of her passions.

Also in this issue is an update on the first-ever Providence Associates Summer Gathering June 27-28. Additionally, there is information about the international conference of the North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) to be held in St. Louis June 4-6.

To read the entire issue, click here. To learn more about Providence Associates, click here.

We welcome our new Providence Associates in Taiwan

Maricar Chao (left) and Ching Yi Tsai (right) became our first Providence Associates in Taiwan on March 28! The women participated in a Rite of Commitment ceremony where Bishop Ignatius Wang of the Archdiocese of San Francisco presided during the Eucharistic Liturgy. Also present for the rite was General Officer Sister Paula Damiano (center).

Supporting Maricar and Ching Yi were family members, friends and Providence Candidate-Associates.

To view images of the day, click here.

Holy Saturday Lenten reflection

Sister Joan Mullen, SP, writes in her Holy Saturday Lenten reflection:

“As Easter people, we bear witness to the paschal mystery when we proclaim Providence in our daily dyings and risings, and that in our war-torn and earth-shaken world our belief that Good Friday is followed by Resurrection.”

To read all of Sister Joan’s reflection, click here.

Picture of the Week: April 2

A detail of "Risen Christ," 1964, by Sister of Providence Edith Pfau (RIP). Join the Sisters of Providence for Easter liturgies.

Remembering Lincoln’s Richmond visit

On Sunday, April 4, WoodsUp History (our children’s Web site) celebrates President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Richmond, Va., the Confederate capital. Accompanying President Lincoln was his son Thomas, who was also known as “Tad.”

James M. McPherson, in his book Battle Cry Freedom: The Civil War Era, describes the visit in this way:

“Lincoln’s visit to Richmond produced the most unforgettable scenes of this unforgettable war. With an escort of only ten sailors, the president walked the streets while Porter [Admiral David D. Porter] peered nervously at every window for would-be assassins.”

To read more about this visit, click here.

Good Friday Lenten reflection

Sister Ann Margaret O’Hara, a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, reflects on evil and suffering in this Good Friday Lenten reflection:

“I believe that the most important understanding about evil and suffering is that no matter what happens, God is WITH us: loving and holding us in an embrace of grace. And we are to be that presence of Providence for each other especially in times of suffering.”

To read Sister Ann Margaret’s entire reflection, click here.

It’s Census Day!

Today is Census Day! Really, no April’s Fool! WoodsUp History (our children’s Web site) encourages everyone to complete her/his form and return it today!

To learn more about the census click here.

For some interesting data from the 1850 census in which Saint Mother Theodore Guerin participated, click here.

Holy Thursday Lenten reflection

In her Lenten reflection for Holy Thursday, Sister Fran O’Brien, SP, writes:

“To be ‘in Christ’ today is to see the Jesus event in human history as part of the Great Story. Because Providence penetrates to the furthest limits of the cosmos, the resurrection of Christ is a cosmic event. The Easter mystery embraces the universe.”

To read Sister Fran’s entire reflection, click here.