Today is November 10, 2008, the 163rd anniversary of the founding of the IHM Congregations — Monroe IHMs from Monroe, Michigan (my community); Scranton IHMs; and Immaculata IHMs (both of Pennsylvania). Our congregations were begun by Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin and Father Louis Florent Gillet, CSsR (Redemptorist priest). Mother Theresa was originally a member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence but she left to found a new community in Michigan with Father Gillet. Though the Oblate Sisters of Providence celebrate their founding by Mother Mary Lange and Father James Hector Nicholas Joubert, SS (Sulpician priest) on July 2, 1829, I can’t help but remember them on our Founders Day because without them, we would not be.
So today on Founders Day, which also happens to be Nunday, I want to share with you photos of my nuns, the Immaculata and Scranton IHMs and the OSPs. Though each of us lives our charism in unique ways and have different stories, we are bound together by a common heart.
First is a photo of the OSPIHM Governing Board which is made up of the Major Superior, the assistant to the Major Superior, and one member selected at large from the membership of the Oblate Sisters of Providence and the three congregations of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The 2006 – 2010 members are (back row) Julie Vieira, IHM (M), Rose Yeager, IHM (I); Lorraine McGrew, IHM (I), Mary Persico, IHM (S), Mary Fran Gilleran, IHM (M); (middle row) Mary Ricardo Maddox, OSP, Mary Jo Gallagher, IHM (S), Mary Annette Beecham, OSP; Mary Anne Bolger, IHM (I) (front row) Fran Fasolka, IHM (S), Ana Jovita Hidalgo, OSP, Joan Mumaw, IHM (M)
Next is a photo of the OSP and IHM Major Superiors in 2005 at a gathering of our 4 communities in Immaculata.
The 2005 Major Superiors were Virginia Pfau, IHM (M), Annette Beecham, OSP, Mary Persico, IHM (S), Rose Marie DeCarlo, IHM (I)
Finally a photo of OSP and IHM Sisters whooping it up with the Mummers at our 2005 gathering of all four communities.
Previous posts on Founders Day at A Nun’s Life.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Laura 11.10.08 at 8:42 am
What a lovely and beautiful bunch of ladies! Thank you so much for sharing your photos!
((hugs))
Sr. Fidelis Tracy, CDP 11.10.08 at 10:49 am
I love the picture and the story. I am a Sister of Divine Providence and have met a number of the Oblates of Providence at some of our gatherings of communities with Providence in their names. I only heard the story of the relationship between the OSPs and IHMs at one of our gatherings a few years ago. I also have a very good friend in the IHM’s–Sr. Kathleen O’Brien.
Sr. Fidelis
deerose 11.10.08 at 2:07 pm
Good pics, Sr. Julie. It’s nice to see you up there smiling ear to ear. A question for the “Providence” sisters … does your charism have anything to do with the theology/philosophy behind the classic, “Abandonment to Divine Providence”?
dee
Sister Julie 11.10.08 at 4:48 pm
Kate O’Brien is one of my Monroe IHMs! Always nice to have these connections in “the sisterhood”.
Deerose, I’ll check in with my OSP friends to see what they think. The OSP Sisters witness by their lives their trust in “Providence” and that “Providence will provide” … something that I experience personally and in my IHM congregation and am able to best understand in the light of my Oblate Sisters’ understanding of Providence.
Another Sister Julie, CSSF 11.10.08 at 5:49 pm
I once heard some Handmaids of the Precious Blood (Jemez Springs, NM) pray a prayer that began: Providence did provide. Provindence can provide. Providence will provide. Doesn anyone know the rest of it?
Lisa 11.11.08 at 5:58 am
What beautiful images reflecting the contemporary witness of this OSP/IHM heritage and legacy! Thank you for bringing our attention to this special day. May all the congregations born of this one heart be blessed abundantly!
Kathleen 04.09.09 at 3:31 pm
Easter Blessings to you and your wonderful community of sisters.
Rosemarie 05.03.09 at 6:11 pm
+J.M.J+
>>>I once heard some Handmaids of the Precious Blood (Jemez Springs, NM) pray a prayer that began: Providence did provide. Provindence can provide. Providence will provide. Doesn anyone know the rest of it?
Is it this one?
Providence did provide.
Providence can provide.
Providence will provide.
O loving Providence of God we commit this cause to Thee.
In Jesu et Maria,