Providence Flashbacks

Margaret Irene Connolly (Sr. Mary Roberta) and Irene Carter (Sr. Mary Lenore) as postulants in 1916 with an unidentified novice.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Most people start the New Year looking forward; however, let’s look back 100 years in the Congregational...

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Excerpts from Congregational Annals of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul December 24, 1933 All in holy preparation for the great feast tomorrow. The chapel looks very sweet in its austere simplicity and pretty decoration...

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTOpening the doors, 50 years ago The open house at the Motherhouse this October got me wondering about past open houses and I discovered that a series of three was held in November 1964. They were held to show off the newly-completed...

Staff of St. Anthony’s Convent, Apple Hill on October 24, 1936. Left to Right:Sr. Mary Wilhelmina O’Hearn, music teacher, Sr. Mary Zita Welsh, teacher andsuperior, Sr. Mary Francesca Kelly, teacher, and Sr. Mary Thomassina Whalen, domestic duties.BY VERONICA...

Sr. M. Melanie Coligan in the “Peak” and the “Round” headdress.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Excerpt from Congregational Annals of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul April 15, 1954 - Holy Thursday. At last the day appointed for changing our headdress...

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST March 15 is Saint Louise de Marillac’s feast day! Louise de Marillac was born on August 12, 1591, near Meux in France. In 1613, at the behest of her family, she married Antony LeGras, the secretary to the Queen Mother, Marie de Medici....

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST From the Congregational Annals of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul: On the 15th [of January 1879] Sr. M. Edward [arrived] accompanied by her sister Miss B. McKinley who had been visiting in Holyoke. They preferred...

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTHandwritten on the verso: “To dear Sr. M. Ruth with best wishes for a happy, holy Christmas and New Year, from Sr. M. Scholastica. 1941.”

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST As this month of remembrance closes, let’s look back through the congregational annals of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and acknowledge the congregation’s many prayers for peace during both World Wars. March 21,...