
Sister Mary Angelica was a Home Child
BY VERONICA STIENBURG Lillian Blanchfield, her two sisters and her two brothers, were “rescued” from the Shaw Street Workhouse in Liverpool, England by the Catholic Children’s Protection Society of Liverpool. They crossed the Atlantic in 11 days aboard the...

A Red Letter Day
BY VERONICA STIENBURG In these times of mass media coverage we take for granted seeing and hearing Pope Francis on television, radio and online. This access was not always the case…what if you had never heard the voice of the Pope? What would the first time you heard...

Our Journey to Holyoke
House of Providence, Holyoke, Massachusetts. circa 1874-1880. Photo courtesy of the Sisters of Providence Holyoke ArchivesBY VERONICA STIENBURG In 1873, Sisters Mary Jane de Chantal and Mary Elizabeth went on a collecting tour in Massachusetts, where they visited...

Anniversary Year in Holyoke
Kingston Sisters attended the anniversary celebration in Holyoke. l to r: Sisters Una Byrne, Gayle Desarmia, Frances O’Brien, Sandra Shannon, Pauline Lally and Irene Wilson.BY PAT ST. AMAND Months after the Canadian Sisters of Providene of St. Vincent de Paul wrapped...

SP’s Featured During Museum Month
left to right: Danielle Hughes, Tom McCarthy, Sister Gayle DesarmiaTen Kingston museums set up temporary displays under one roof on May 12 to commemorate Museum Month. The Sisters of Providence Printing Room Museum and The Heritage Room were part of the showcase held...

Kingston Heritage Fair
Kingston area students and teachers were offered a glimpse into the 150 year history of the Sisters of Providence during the annual Regional Heritage Fair held on May 3 and 4. Archivist Veronica Stienburg and Archives employee Tom McCarthy displayed artifacts and...

Motherhouse Turns 80
‘Heathfield Villa’ 2 storey cottage-style villaBY VERONICA STIENBURG The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul have had two motherhouses over the course of their history. 'Motherhouse' is the official administrative home of a religious congregation. The House...

Annual Conference – ‘Celebrate Ourselves’
left to right: Tom McCarthy, Sister Gayle Desarmia and Danielle Hughes wear costumes from the Stratford Costume House.The Archives team at Providence Motherhouse got to play “dress up” during a quick stop at the Stratford Festival Archives and Costume Warehouse in...

Scenes of Early Kingston
Construction site of the Novitiate at Heathfield, 1931BY DANIELLE HUGHES Members of the Kingston Historical Society meet monthly at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to listen to presenters discuss Kingston history. On November 18, 2009, four young archivists came...

Special Documents Returned
Providence Care archivist Megan Kerrigan delivers the plans to Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul archivist Danielle HughesBY DANIELLE HUGHES Ninety-two years after preparations for a new hospital to be built and operated by the Sisters of Providence in...