Remembering Holy Family Hospital…
The original Holy Family Hospital, later known as Marian Villa. This house served as the hospital from 1947 to 1954.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence opened Holy Family Hospital for the chronically ill in 1947 in an old house in the Fraserview area of Vancouver, British Columbia. The house later known as Marian Villa served as the hospital and convent for 7 years, before a purpose-built hospital opened in March 1954....
Kingston Interfaith Potluck 2022
Photos by Sister Jeannette Filthaut, SPThe Kingston Interfaith Community held a potluck supper on November 29, and Sister Pauline Lally spoke to the group as a Christian member of the interfaith group. The theme for the evening was "Peace" which Sister Pauline referenced frequently in her speech below.Once when a non-Catholic friend of mine attended Mass with me, he remarked how often he heard the word, “Peace” used in the liturgy. So, Peace –...
Keeping Warm…
Coal truck delivering coal to Providence Motherhouse in ca.1943. (If you don’t recognize this view of the front door, it’s because we are used to seeing the Administration wing to the east of the main entrance, but it wasn’t built until 1964.)BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST As the weather gets colder, we all appreciate when the heat is turned on at the Motherhouse. Have you ever thought about how Providence Motherhouse was originally heated?...
Remembrance Day 2022
Photo by Sister Jeannette Filthaut.Sister Pauline Lally was invited to speak at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Providence Care Hospital, where she spoke of the lives lost in WWI and many wars since that we remember on November 11. As a longtime justice and peace advocate, she also described her hope for a world where Peace could replace War and the tragedies of war could be averted.Thank you for the honour of inviting me to share my...
Renewal of Vows and Commitments
Sister Sandra Shannon, General Superior, addressing the Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates.BY ANN BONIFERRO, DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL LITURGY & MUSIC With grateful hearts, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and the Providence Associates were gathered to renew their vows and commitments. This celebration occurs annually on September 15, the Memorial of Our Mother of Sorrows; however, because Providence Motherhouse is...
Remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from seven-year-olds Debbie of Sunnyside Children’s Centre and Neil of Heathfield Orphanage (operated by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul) on June 28, 1959 at Richardson Stadium, Kingston ON. Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and Kingston Mayor William T. Mills look on. Photograph originally published on the cover of the Kingston Whig-Standard, June 29, 1959.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Upon...
Hiroshima Day – August 6
BY PAULINE LALLY, SP Social scientist, Brené Brown says we need to show up for collective moments of joy and sorrow so that we can bear witness to inextricable human connections. That’s why we go to funerals, protests, sports events, concerts, Sunday Mass. Collective celebrations and anniversaries – both joyful and painful – contribute to a life filled with a sense of connection. That’s what August 6 does for me each summer. With others we...
49 Years of Teaching
When Sister Mary Francis of Assisi retired after 49 years of teaching, William Davis, then Minister of Education, wrote to her.
Heathfield Villa
In the late 1840s the property we know as Heathfield was compiled when three smaller parcels of land, were purchased by Alex Forbes to create a 30 acre lot.
The Motherhouse and its grounds
The Motherhouse and its grounds have changed a lot since 1932, but are still very recognizable! These four photographs show how the landscaping in front of the Motherhouse and the Motherhouse itself have changed over the years.
Missioning ceremony held for President & CEO Laurie French
A special missioning ceremony of Laurie French, Providence Village Inc. (PVI) President & Chief Executive Officer and Motherhouse Administrator was held May 9 in the Chapel of Mary, Mother of Compassion at the Providence Motherhouse.
Sisters!
Sr. M. Henry, Sr. M. Juliana, and Sr. Mary Seven Dolors McMahon.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Numerous siblings have entered the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul over the years. Religious life was not the right fit for some of these women, but many sets of siblings did live out their lives together as Sisters of Providence, including 7 sets of three siblings: the Byrne sisters, the Mangan sisters, the Corrigan sisters, the...
The Pope’s appeal
BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY When a crisis would arise, our General Superior would tell us young teaching Sisters, “Pray, and have the children pray.” And we would, and things would actually work themselves out somehow. As the poet Tennyson says, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” I sincerely hope so, as the invasion of Russia on Ukraine seems like a David and Goliath story. This war has caused great pain in all our...
How the trees have grown!
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Motherhouse grounds have changed a lot over the years, and yet stayed the same in other ways. These two photographs show how the Motherhouse grounds, from the Main Entrance to Princess Street, have changed over a span of 62 years. The trees have grown A LOT, and the birdbath has been replaced by the Peace Pole, but the basic design remains the same!The photograph above was taken in 1955 and the photograph...
My Opinion
BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY As my sister would say, when she heard ridiculous over-the-top honking, “So you got a horn! What else did Santa Claus give you for Christmas?” For the past few weeks Liz’s remarks have echoed repeatedly in my brain. With the potential for violence, these protests have been far more frightening of late than annoying, in my opinion. What seems to have been an excuse for these protests was the governments’ ordering of...
Living the Charism and Mission for 160 years
The Sisters held a small celebration that encompassed storytelling at Providence Motherhouse…
Jubilee Celebration of 2020 and 2021
2020 Jubilarians from left: Sister Yvette Girard (60 years), Sister Judith Ann Murphy (60 years) and Sister Rita Gleason (60 years). Not photographed but celebrating:Sister Nöella Séguin (2020, 70 years), and Sister Sara Jiménez Angulo (2020, 25 years).BY SISTER JEANNETTE FILTHAUT “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.” On Saturday Sept. 18th the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul came together at...
Christmas Crib
Every year at Christmas, we all enjoy the large outdoor Crib that is on display in front of Providence Motherhouse in Kingston. The Statues were purchased by Sr. Mary Roberta, General Treasurer, in 1961 and she requested that a stable be built to display the statues.
Chapter is a Verb
Sister Mary Jo Radey, CSJBY SISTER PAULINE LALLY In the midst of this never-ending pandemic, we held a pre-chapter retreat in October. The highlight for me was that we were able to get together. To see each other, to talk to each other, to share meals and laughter once again. After how many months? It seemed like a hundred. However, it was a serious affair as well. This Chapter will be about transforming ourselves into a new reality in a...
Providence Associates Retreat 2021
Brenda Peddigrew, RSM facilitating the 2019 Chapter of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.BY REGINA LANNON, PROVIDENCE ASSOCIATE In a cosmic moment in early October, 30 Providence Associates and 3 Sisters of Providence gathered via Zoom from our own homes to spend Friday evening and Saturday with Sr. Brenda Peddigrew, RSM, as retreat director once again. We were in the season of Creation, on the cusp of the feast day of Francis of...