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  Trinity Sunday, 2026     Dear Sisters and Associates, Happy Trinity Sunday!  As I began thinking of this letter, I hunted for an appropriate quote from one of our Founders.  I didn’t find a direct quote but did find a section where Ketteler reminds us that as God is a communion of love, so too are we called to shape our communities in love. As we gather our hearts in celebration of Trinity Sunday, we are drawn into the profound Mystery at the very center of our faith:  the living communion of love that is God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Trinity is not a doctrine easily understood, but a relationship to be entered, encountered, a dynamic life-giving community into which we are continually invited. When I think of the Trinity, I think of a God we encounter who is not solitary, but relational—Three in One, perfectly united in love, mutual self-giving, and communion.  This divine relationship becomes our blueprint for how we are to be.  Created in this image of the Triune God, we are made for community.  Our lives, especially as women and men of Providence, are to reflect this sacred pattern of connection, where each of us is valued, each voice is heard, and love is both given and received freely.  Isn’t that what we have been expressing in our desires and conversations during our International and National meetings—relationship building.  Providence is that living expression of Trinitarian love.  The God who creates, redeems, and sustains us is actively at work in our world and in our lives, weaving us together in ways often unseen but deeply real.  We have been and are trusting that even in moments and times of uncertainty or change, the presence of this Triune God of Providence continues to guide us, inviting us into deeper relationship—with God, with one another, and with all of creation, as our Chapter 2022 Directional Statement reflects.  We have such a tapestry of diversity and gifts among us. Just as Bishop Ketteler reminds us of that beautiful vision, we also hear his call that our communities are to mirror the very life of the Trinity.  We are to be living expressions of that divine communion, where love is not abstract but embodied in our care, our justice, and our fidelity to one another.  I like to think it is the pattern written right into our very DNA.  Ketteler also reminds us of God’s steadfast care in the world: ”Divine Providence gently leads us often by paths we do not know, yet always toward the good.”  (paraphrased)  This trust in Providence is part of our charism and is at the heart of our vocation.  Even when there are unknowns, we know God will show us the way and draw us ever more deeply into communion and mission.  In our patience, our listening, our willingness to remain present to one another we are reflecting this Trinity mystery in simple and profound ways.    Trinity Sunday offers us the opportunity to renew our commitment as Providence people to this way of living.  It calls us to be tangible signs of God’s love in a world that longs for connections and hope.  As Sisters and Associates, and Amici Cordis, may our lives continue to witness to the beauty of unity in diversity and the strength that comes from walking this Holy Adventure together in faith.  My wish for you is that the Triune God bless you abundantly—surround you with love, sustain you with hope and draw you ever more deeply into the sacred communion that is both our home and our mission.  May all of us be a reflection of that Triune love in the world today.   With grateful love, Sister Barbara McMullen, Congregational Leader    

    Discernment Days for the Future Congregational Leadership were held via Zoom from May 6–8, 2026. These days provided an opportunity for each person invited into the discernment process for leadership to reflect deeply on her personal call and on the movement of the Holy Spirit during this time. From the perspective of the congregation as a whole, the current leadership also shared their experiences regarding the congregation’s mission, charism, spirituality, and vision, as well as the importance of relationship-building within the leadership team, ways of communication, the various personal qualities needed for leadership, and other significant issues connected to leadership ministry. Through this experience, the participants were invited not only to discern their personal call, but also to reflect more deeply on the meaning and responsibility of leadership ministry within the congregation, while sharing this journey together.

  “At the Generalate, we marked Earth Day by gathering with the ladies from St. Francis Parish for a prayer in the backyard, followed by the planting of a Cercis chinensis tree.”  

"The great gift of Easter is hope" (Basil Hume)

    Easter, 2026   Dear Sisters and Associates, I came across a quote the other day and thought it was definitely worth sharing with you.  In a world that often searches for certainty through arguments and evidence, the Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “There are no proofs for the existence of God.  There are only witnesses.”  His words ring with particular clarity for us Providence people.  Our vocation is not to win debates or to offer tidy explanations of mystery.  Our call is far more beautiful – and far more demanding.  We are called to be witnesses. We have encountered the living God.  We have known the tenderness of Providence guiding our steps, sometimes through bright days and sometimes through valleys.  Yet, we have felt the quiet strength of Christ beside us.  Faith, for us, is not an abstract idea; it is a relationship.  It is the steady assurance that Providence is present, active, and trustworthy.  And from that assurance springs joy. This joy is not naïve optimism or a denial of suffering.  It is the deep joy that comes from knowing we are held by God.  It is the joy that rises even in the midst of challenge because we trust that Providence is at work beyond what we can see.  It is the joy that first burst forth from the empty tomb and continues to echo through history:  Christ is alive!  Love has triumphed! Sing out Alleluia! As Sisters and Associates of Divine Providence, our lives themselves become proclamation. When we forgive, we witness.  When we stand with those who are poor or marginalized, we witness.  When we choose hope over despair, compassion over indifference, courage over fear, we proclaim the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ.  Through our fidelity, our service, our prayer, and our communal life, we say to the world:  God is real.  God is near.  God is love. The question before us is simple and profound: How do we give witness to what we have seen and heard?  We do so by allowing God’s presence to shape our attitudes, our words, and our actions.  We do so by speaking openly of the hope that sustains us.  We do so by living with integrity, so that others glimpse in us something more than ourselves.  Our very lives become an invitation – an open door through which others may encounter the God we know and love. In every place we minister, in community gatherings, and in quiet moments of daily encounter, we carry the light of Christ.  We do not need to prove God’s existence.  We simply need to reflect God’s presence.  A listening heart, a generous spirit, a faithful commitment to justice and mercy – these are the living testimonies that make faith credible.  These are the very things that Bishop Ketteler and Mother Marie passed on to us. May we never underestimate the power of our witness.  A single life lived with conviction can awaken faith in another.  A community radiant with joy can renew a weary world.  Providence has entrusted this holy responsibility to us – not because we are perfect, but because we are willing. Let us continue, then, to walk forward with confidence.  Let us trust the One who has called us. Let us rejoice in the gift of faith that fills our hearts with unshakeable hope.  And with voices strong and grateful, let us proclaim with our lives and our lips: Alleluia! God is with us. God is faithful. God is at work among us still. With gratitude for each of you and the witness you give each day, I wish you a Happy Easter! Sister Barbara McMullen CDP, Congregational Leader  

   

  " Our eyes and hearts must be reverted to our Redeemer, who is, even now, leading us into his eternal life. Let us not take our eyes off him!"  Chery Ann smith, 'Living with Christ' -

Image: Pope at Angelus: Faith opens our eyes to suffering humanity - Vatican News   "Deeply disturbing news continues to arrive from Iran and the entire Middle East. In addition to the episodes of violence and devastation as well as the widespread climate of hatred and fear, there is also the concern that the conflict will spread and that other countries in the region, including beloved Lebanon, may again sink back into instability. " We lift up our humble prayer to the Lord, do that the thunderous sound of bombs may cease, weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open up in which the voice of the people can be heard. I entrust this intention to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, that she may intercede for those who suffer because of war and lead hearts along the paths of reconciliation and hope." - Pope Leo, during his weekly Angelus address at the Vatican last Sunday. Vatican Dicastery for Communication. March 8, 2026 -