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