Women of Providence in Collaboration
Encyclopedia
Women of Providence in Collaboration or WPC is an association of congregations of North American Roman Catholic religious
sisters with "Providence" in their name. It initially grew out of an idea by Sister Michelle Holland, SP (Spokane, Washington), to have an event for religious congregations to come together with the purpose of "exploring together the theology and spirituality of Providence
." This event occurred in 1980 in Great Falls, Montana
, and 80 sisters from varying congregations attended.
In 1982 another event occurred, from which a Women of Providence in Collaboration steering committee was formed. This committee included Michelle Holland, SP of Spokane; Barbara Doherty
, SP of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods; Kathleen Popko, SP of Holyoke; Mary Joan Coultas, CDP of Pittsburgh; and Anita Green, CDP of St. Louis.
Since 1982, the congregations have continued meeting and hosting events for their congregation members. These members are:
The current executive director is Sister Ann Margaret O'Hara
, SP, member of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Religious (Catholicism)
In the lexicon of certain branches of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches, religious as a noun usually refers to a member of a religious order of monks, nuns, friars, clerics regular, or other individuals who take the three vows of poverty, chastity, and...
sisters with "Providence" in their name. It initially grew out of an idea by Sister Michelle Holland, SP (Spokane, Washington), to have an event for religious congregations to come together with the purpose of "exploring together the theology and spirituality of Providence
Divine Providence
In Christian theology, divine providence, or simply providence, is God's activity in the world. " Providence" is also used as a title of God exercising His providence, and then the word are usually capitalized...
." This event occurred in 1980 in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, and 80 sisters from varying congregations attended.
In 1982 another event occurred, from which a Women of Providence in Collaboration steering committee was formed. This committee included Michelle Holland, SP of Spokane; Barbara Doherty
Barbara Doherty
Sister Barbara Doherty, S.P., is an educator and theologian. A Roman Catholic nun, she is a member of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana from 1984-1998...
, SP of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods; Kathleen Popko, SP of Holyoke; Mary Joan Coultas, CDP of Pittsburgh; and Anita Green, CDP of St. Louis.
Since 1982, the congregations have continued meeting and hosting events for their congregation members. These members are:
- Congregation of Divine ProvidenceCongregation of Divine ProvidenceThe Congregation of Divine Providence was founded by Father Jean-Martin Moye, a French priest who saw the lack of educational opportunities for females in his parish in Lorraine, France....
, San Antonio, Texas - Congregation of the Sisters of Divine ProvidenceCongregation of the Sisters of Divine ProvidenceThe Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence is a Catholic religious order that was founded in 1851 in Germany by Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler, Bishop of Mainz, and Stephanie Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche, a French noblewoman....
, Wakefield, Rhode Island - Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence, San Antonio, Texas
- Oblate Sisters of ProvidenceOblate Sisters of ProvidenceThe Oblate Sisters of Providence is a Roman Catholic women religious order, founded by Mother Mary Lange, OSP]], and Rev. James Nicholas Joubert, SS in 1829 in Baltimore, Maryland for the education of girls of color. It has the distinction of being the first Roman Catholic religious order began for...
, Baltimore - Sisters of Providence, Montreal Quebec
- Sisters of Providence of HolyokeSisters of Providence of HolyokeThe Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, Massachusetts, are a congregation of Roman Catholic religious sisters. In November 1873, four Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul from Kingston, Ontario, went to Holyoke to care for the sick poor...
, Massachusetts - Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsSisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsThe Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
, Indiana - Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de PaulSisters of Providence of St. Vincent de PaulThe Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul are a congregation of Roman Catholic religious sisters with their motherhouse in Kingston, Ontario. On December 13, 1861, the Sisters of Charity from Montreal sent sisters to Kingston to begin a new religious congregation at the request of the bishop...
, Kingston, Ontario
The current executive director is Sister Ann Margaret O'Hara
Ann Margaret O'Hara
Sister Ann Margaret O'Hara, S.P., was the Superior General of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 2001 to 2006. During her term, she made numerous changes to help the Congregation plan for the future, including establishing a Mission Advisory Board and creating a...
, SP, member of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
External links
- WPC Congregational "Tree" - shows the history of the member congregations and formation relationships