One of the interesting experiences of living in a community of three congregations as we do here at Providence Mother House, is learning more about one another’s founding stories. On December 13, the Sisters of Providence of Kingston celebrated 155 years since the arrival of the first group of four Sisters who came from Montreal in 1861 at the request of Bishop Horan to begin a new foundation. They were preceded by the CND’s who came in 1841 for the education of girls and the RHSJ’s in 1845, whose mission was to care for the sick by opening a hospital. The Sisters of Providence came to serve the poor and destitute of the city. Their mission involved opening an orphanage, a home for the aged, visiting prisons, and supporting the poorest people of the society of the time. The celebration in honour of the founding Sisters took place in a beautiful prayer service during which the story of the founding days was recounted along with a time of remembrance of the Sisters who had entered the community in the first ten years. During the special meal that followed, Sister Sandra Shannon, General Superior, recognized the contribution of the two communities who had welcomed and supported them in those early days, and who are now living with one another within their Mother House. “It is now as it was in the beginning,” Sister Sandra reflected.
Throughout the meal, conversations continued with sharing other foundation and community stories of each of our communities.
Thank you, Sisters of Providence, for your 155 years of devoted, compassionate service to the people of Kingston and beyond.