Picture of the week: August 30

Sisters of Providence who live at the motherhouse gathered yesterday at an SP Social for ice cream and coffee in the Providence Hall dining room. At top is Sister Beatrice Hoberg; at bottom are Sisters Mary Pat Cummings, Edwardine McNulty and Dorothy McLaughlin.

(If pictures are not visible, you can view them at http://flic.kr/p/ahN6ii and http://flic.kr/p/ahQTzL.)

The work of the Holy Spirit

Social justice issues are important to Providence Candidate-Associate Gerri Baum of Cary, Ill. She belongs to many organizations that bring light to injustices in our world. Some of these groups include NETWORK, Pax Christi, Call to Action, American Catholic Council and the Women’s Ordination Conference.

Now, as a Providence Candidate-Associate, Gerri is learning more about the Congregation’s passion for social justice. After studying the Spiritual Integration Units (a program to help introduce candidates to the Sisters of Providence, the Providence Associate Relationship and Providence spirituality) with her companion, Sister Barbara Sheehan, Gerri noted:

“My overall reaction was overwhelming surprise. Six out of seven of my comments on the assessment reflection for each unit are, basically, ‘We’re on the same page.’ The lessons of the units have been a part of my adult spiritual development. I don’t think it is coincidental, I think it’s a work of the Holy Spirit. The units, however, also provided opportunities to reflect further on my life and spiritual path.”

Gerri will make her first commitment as a Providence Associate on Nov. 12, 2011.

Video celebrates Providence Associates and sisters

If you’re feeling a little down, then this video of Providence Associates singing and dancing at a social during the 2011 Annual Gathering last June might be just what you need. In what is becoming an annual tradition, Providence Associates put on their dancing shoes and entertained other associates and sisters during an evening social.

Chuck Neuman, husband of Providence Associate Marilyn Neuman, is credited with being the videographer of this event. Christina Blust, a graphics designer in the Office of Congregational Advancement, edited the video.

On that June evening 11 associates took the plunge and sang and danced their little hearts out. They included Maureen Baca, Sheila Donis, Sandra Hartlieb, Donna Kehoe, Sharon Medicis Michaud, Diann Neu, Megan O’Donnell Patton, Maria Price, Tracy Schier, Donna Watzke and Mel Marino Wolff. For a great Annual Gathering memory, check out this fun video.

Experiencing the generosity of Providence

From a very early age, Providence Associate Liza Hyatt of Indianapolis knew that art was very important to her.

“I knew that I loved art and that I found solace in it and that I needed to create to feel whole. I had childhood rheumatoid arthritis from the age of 3 to around 11 or 12. The first three letters of arthritis are a-r-t and because I felt unable to be an athlete due to the illness, I retreated to my imagination and trusted that ‘art’ was a gift hidden in having arthritis. I see now that I became an art therapist at an early age to help myself find healing during and after the arthritis,” said Liza, pictured above in the center of the first row.

Witnessing the difference that art made in her life, Liza wanted to share that experience with others. Today, she ministers at the Charis Center, the IU Simon Cancer Center and her own private practice. She also teaches the graduate course, Art Therapy and Spiritual Development, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

“Everyone is creative. Life involves struggle and conflict and creativity is how human beings respond to such tension. Often, people identify themselves as ‘not having an artistic bone’ because they have been told this by others or taught to distrust creativity from an early age. Art is misunderstood as something only talented professionals do. But if someone who identifies herself as not artistic has the chance to explore, engage with colors, sound, movement, metaphor, she will find that she has abundant creativity and that there is amazing unexplored potential within herself to discover. Often I hear people say, ‘Oh, I’m not artistic. I can’t even draw a straight line!’ Well, growth never asks us to draw in straight lines. And if you can make loops, curves, scribbles, spirals, doodles, then art therapy can help you grow," Liza continued.

Becoming a Providence Associate has renewed Liza’s soul. “I have made new friends and have come upon unexpected opportunities. I am experiencing the generosity of Providence more,” concluded Liza.

Ching Yi and Maricar renew their commitments

Ching Yi Tsai (left) and Maricar Chao, both of Shalu, Taiwan, renewed their commitments as Providence Associates for one year during a Eucharistic Liturgy in the chapel of Providence University on June 12. Ching Yi and Maricar were the first two people in Taiwan to make commitments as Providence Associates in March of 2010. Several family, friends and Sisters of Providence attended the celebration which ended with a big feast, a Sisters of Providence tradition.

Both associates were companioned by Sister Editha Ben. Maricar’s husband, Patrick, is a Providence Candidate-Associate whose companion is Sister Regina Wallace. Thanks to Patrick, we are able to share some images from this joyous day.

Providence Associates sing, dance and pray

Providence Associates came to share, pray, listen, worship, sing and celebrate with one another as well as with Sisters of Providence during their Annual Gathering at the Woods June 26-28. Nearly 60 associates came from all over the country for this annual event. The gathering included attending the opening days of the 2011 General Chapter of the Congregation.

While there were serious conversations, there was also time for fun and entertainment. Providence Associates are a creative lot, and they love to sing and dance, especially to the tunes of ABBA’s Dancing Queen and Kool & The Gang’s Celebration. Amazingly, no hips were thrown out of joint during the dancing!

A newly posted video illustrates some of the fun everyone had. Providence Associates are already looking forward to the 2012 Annual Gathering.

Providence Associates gather and entertain

The past few days have been ones of joyful celebrations and reunions for Providence Associates and Sisters of Providence. On Saturday, June 25, 13 sisters celebrated their golden jubilee. Among them was Sister Diane Mason, director of Providence Associates. Then on Sunday afternoon and evening, nearly 60 Providence Associates met in LeFer Ballroom at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for their second Annual Gathering.

On Monday morning, associates and sisters joined one another in O’Shaughnessy Dining Room for the opening of the 2011 General Chapter. During the opening Eucharistic Liturgy the room was filled with great energy. Later that afternoon, the State of the Congregation reports were heard.

Last summer during the sisters’ Annual Meeting, four Providence Associates — Sheila Donis, Sharon Medicis Michaud, Diann Neu and Mel Marino Wolff — entertained sisters and associates during a social with their particular version of ABBA’s Dancing Queen. Back by popular demand and with an even larger number of dancing queens, the associates once again entertained everyone in the newly remodeled Providence Hall Dining Room.

Keep checking back for images from these events!

Debbie Dillow joins Providence Associates Advisory Board

The Providence Associates Advisory Board welcomes its newest member, Debbie Dillow of Lizton, Ind. A Providence Associate since 2008, Debbie’s appointment was approved by the General Council in May. She brings many gifts to this board.

“I pray that I bring an open mind to new and innovative ways of serving Providence Associates and the Sisters of Providence through membership on the advisory board. I see the Providence Associates as being a critical part in furthering the mission of the Sisters of Providence. … Prayerfully discerning the direction and listening to Providence, through the intercession of Saint Mother Theodore as our guide, the advisory board can help direct the future of the associates and their role in association with the Sisters of Providence,” said Debbie, pictured above at left.

Debbie and her husband, Bob, are the parents and grandparents of two grown children and four grandchildren. She is very active at St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg, Ind.

At this time, Debbie is reading “Tools Matter for Practicing the Spiritual Life” by Mary Margaret Funk.

“I have just started this book but the thought of learning new tools and ways of praying to deepen my spiritual life intrigued me. I just finished ‘Prayer’ by Joyce Rupp, a book that affirmed that God speaks to us when we are silent. In the busyness of today’s world, calming my thoughts and devoting time to God are essential to the healthiness of one’s spiritual life,” she continued.

Learn more about our newest member of the Providence Associates Advisory Board.

Uncovering ‘Longfellow’s grave’

“It had several affectionate names through the years, but the one I know is Longfellow’s grave,” said Sister Rose Ann Eaton, associate director of Facilities Management, referring to the large cistern on the eastside of Providence Hall which was removed last Friday, June 3.

“It held water from the downspouts on Providence Hall before it drained to the underground sanitary system. At one time, the sisters may have had a pump in it to use for outdoor watering of plants,” Sister Rose Ann continued.

“Plant Brothers, our contractors for this job, will fill in the cistern. The area will have completely new underground pipes for drainage. Many of the old ones were completely broken down. A parking lot will be located in that whole area by the east door,” she said.

There is a cistern in the courtyard of Providence Hall which is still being used.

To learn more about Providence Hall and its awesome architecture check out the winter 2011 issue of HOPE, pages 12-13.

A big thank you to Jim Brown, director of Facilities Management, for the photos.

Rita Tatum sasses cancer back

Taking on the Big C with spirit is the subject of a new book written by Providence Associate Rita Tatum, (pictured in pink at right with the late Sister Marianne McGriffin) who chronicles her journey with stage IV uterine cancer through a series of emails to family and friends. “Sass Cancer Back: Living with Spirit” was published last March.

“The book began as emails to friends, who were praying for me, during my surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. As the months passed, people receiving my emails kept telling me how funny they were. A number encouraged me “to write a book so others can benefit from your experience.” When the book was in an early draft, a book critic reviewed the manuscript and felt it was like having a friend with you as you embarked on a cancer journey. He told me to double the manuscript (then 40,000 words), keeping in mind that friend concept. I took his advice,” shared Rita.

Rita adds a large dose of humor to her work.

“Life is absurd. You never know when or where on your life’s journey, you’ll end up hitting a slippery segment and come crashing down, hopefully on the well-padded end. Now, covered in mud, you can cry. But it takes lots and lots of tears to wash mud off. Or, you can laugh and turn the garden hose on yourself. It’s been my experience that the garden hose option is faster,” she joked.

“Sass Cancer Back: Living with Spirit” is available at Xlibris and at all major online booksellers.

Picture of the Week: May 27

Every five years, the Sisters of Providence get their pictures taken for a congregation-wide photo directory. 2011 is one of those lucky years, so this week I began the process with the first batch of SP picture days. We started with some of the sisters who are "home" at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

What a delightful experience it's been so far to witness the dignity, humor and grace of these women! Each face I get to capture is chock full of stories of a life full of Providence.

I couldn't pick just one, so here are three. (From the top: Sisters Richard Bussing, Sheila FitzSimons and Adelaide Ortegel)

ZAP! Providence Associate Paul Beel pens a comic book

In Tales of Power there are heroes: Apex and Oath. There are villains: Atomic and Thoom. There’s a city called New Providence. And there’s plenty of theology.

“As far as theology, we tried to place several good messages in the book. We also embed theology in to some of our heroes. One of our characters is a reverend at his day job. As you have probably noticed, we have a character named Scripture [pictured]. There is even a hero that is merged with an angel. I couldn’t help to give a small nod to the Sisters of Providence. There is a city named New Providence. I plan to pay homage to the sisters in later books as well. The first thing we did was base our universe around God and his son Jesus Christ,” explained Paul, a Providence Associate since 2008.

To get his comic printed, Paul and his colleagues are raising money through a website called KickStarter.

The site “is filled with projects that need donations. Once we are able to print we plan to make it available for purchase on our website as well as comic shops in Indianapolis and Maryland for starters,” continued Paul.

ZOWEE! BIFF! POW!

Join Alice Shelton’s online radio audience

Providence Associate Alice Shelton has been a co-host of the weekly blog talk radio show, “Open Book,” since November 2010. Each week she and Lori Harris Strawn host a 15-minute show that discusses spirituality through novels, poetry and other literature. Why did Alice agree to this venture?

“When Lori emailed me initially about this [show], I responded yes to her request. I was in a place in my own life where I felt that I needed something consistent and reliable each week, outside of Mass attendance, to help maintain Christian accountability and spiritual growth. Her email came at a time in my life where it felt like an answered prayer,” said Alice, a Providence Associate from Indianapolis and a 1987 graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Alice continued, “I think that both of us tend toward trying to find things that are not mainstream and that will challenge our thinking some. We also try very hard to not limit our discussion to ‘Catholic’ stuff, but we do know that our bias naturally comes through. While we mostly agree on things, there have been times when our discussion brought to light a point of disagreement. Those times are most interesting — in part because it makes the dialogue more lively and in part because it has deepened our friendship and helped us learn new things about one another.”

SPs and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Last week, I spent several days on a Civil War pilgrimage to Gettysburg, Antietam, Harper’s Ferry and Manassas. On our way to Antietam (also known as Sharpsburg, Md.), we stopped at an awesome museum in Frederick, Md. — the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

It rocked! There was information about the evacuation of the wounded, field hospitals, embalming, Dr. Letterman and his early version of triage, and, lo and behold, a brief entry on Sister Athanasius Fogarty and the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Sister Athanasius served as directress of Military Hospital during the Civil War. Needless to say, I was very excited and asked one of the docents if I could take a photo of the sign. She said yes and was quite pleased to know that I had a connection with the Sisters of Providence.

If you are ever in the Frederick area, I strongly recommend you check out this museum.

‘A sacrament of God’s love, Providence, hope and healing’

“It is my desire to respond to God’s call through a lifelong journey of conversion of mind and heart in order to serve as a Black Catholic woman by being a sacrament of God’s love, Providence, hope, healing and liberation,” says Providence Associate Barbara Cottrell in an interview for the May 2011 issue of Providence Associate newSPaper.

Barbara continues, “I am drawn to journey with the Sisters of Providence through Saint Mother Theodore’s charism of love, mercy and justice. I want to accompany others on their journey to healing, transformation and growth.”

This issue of PA newSPaper also shares information about this summer’s General Chapter in which Providence Associates may attend Monday, June 27, and until noon on Tuesday, June 28. Associates will have their Annual Gathering on Sunday afternoon and evening, June 26. Sister Catherine “Cathy” Schwemer, PHJC, former director of the North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) will lead the discussion.

If you are interested in becoming a Providence Associate, the application process is now open.