Who built the Motherhouse?

Who built the Motherhouse?

The original wing of the building, known as the 1932 wing, was designed by Architect Colin Drever and the contractor was Angus Robertson of Montreal. This is a photograph of the workmen, hired by Angus Robertson, who actually built the Motherhouse. The workmen are standing in front of what we know as the north half of the former PSC wing. The photograph was taken on November 9th, 1931 while the building was still under construction. This print...

Everything has its time

Everything has its time

Providence Village is a community of hope, belonging and wellbeing for the vulnerable where diverse partners offer compassionate care and support services to honour and continue the spirit and Catholic legacy of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. The construction phase has started and Sister Jeannette Filthaut reflects on it in this article. For updates on Providence Village go to www.providencevillage.ca.BY SISTER JEANNETTE...

What did Heathfield look like in 1930?

What did Heathfield look like in 1930?

In June 1930 the Sisters of Providence purchased Heathfield, an approximately 30 acre property just outside the western limits of the city of Kingston, from Mr. H. Jennings. The property was surveyed on September 25th, 1930 and the site plan was completed on October 10th, 1930. The plan shows the original gatehouse that stood near the entrance on Princess Street. You can see the driveway had only one loop and shows the original residence, known...

Motherhouse Offered Shelter During 1998 Ice Storm

Motherhouse Offered Shelter During 1998 Ice Storm

Trees and barn covered in ice on the Motherhouse property, Kingston Ontario, January 1998.An office is converted into an emergency bedroom at Providence Motherhouse, Kingston, Ontario, in January 1998.This January is the 25th anniversary of the Ice Storm of 1998. During the aftermath of the storm, Providence Motherhouse offered shelter to members of the public and Sisters who stayed for several days between January 8th and January 17th. Let’s...

Interfaith teachings on peace – 2022 potluck

Interfaith teachings on peace – 2022 potluck

BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY A vibrant group of individuals from various faiths, beliefs and spiritual traditions, who have been meeting monthly since the 150th Anniversary of Canada, held their annual potluck – the 1st still in the pandemic – in Memorial Hall at the historic City Hall on November 29.  Each year this Kingston Interfaith Community opens to the wider Kingston community in this way.  About 100 folks came to enjoy diverse food and music...

Remembering Holy Family Hospital…

Remembering Holy Family Hospital…

The original Holy Family Hospital, later known as Marian Villa. This house served as the hospital from 1947 to 1954.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence opened Holy Family Hospital for the chronically ill in 1947 in an old house in the Fraserview area of Vancouver, British Columbia. The house later known as Marian Villa served as the hospital and convent for 7 years, before a purpose-built hospital opened in March 1954....

Interfaith teachings on peace – 2022 potluck

Kingston Interfaith Potluck 2022

Photos by Sister Jeannette Filthaut, SPThe Kingston Interfaith Community held a potluck supper on November 29, and Sister Pauline Lally spoke to the group as a Christian member of the interfaith group. The theme for the evening was "Peace" which Sister Pauline referenced frequently in her speech below.Once when a non-Catholic friend of mine attended Mass with me, he remarked how often he heard the word, “Peace” used in the liturgy.  So, Peace –...

Keeping Warm…

Keeping Warm…

Coal truck delivering coal to Providence Motherhouse in ca.1943. (If you don’t recognize this view of the front door, it’s because we are used to seeing the Administration wing to the east of the main entrance, but it wasn’t built until 1964.)BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST As the weather gets colder, we all appreciate when the heat is turned on at the Motherhouse. Have you ever thought about how Providence Motherhouse was originally heated?...

Remembrance Day 2022

Remembrance Day 2022

Photo by Sister Jeannette Filthaut.Sister Pauline Lally was invited to speak at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Providence Care Hospital, where she spoke of the lives lost in WWI and many wars since that we remember on November 11. As a longtime justice and peace advocate, she also described her hope for a world where Peace could replace War and the tragedies of war could be averted.Thank you for the honour of inviting me to share my...

Renewal of Vows and Commitments

Renewal of Vows and Commitments

Sister Sandra Shannon, General Superior, addressing the Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates.BY ANN BONIFERRO, DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL LITURGY & MUSIC With grateful hearts, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and the Providence Associates were gathered to renew their vows and commitments. This celebration occurs annually on September 15, the Memorial of Our Mother of Sorrows; however, because Providence Motherhouse is...

Remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from seven-year-olds Debbie of Sunnyside Children’s Centre and Neil of Heathfield Orphanage (operated by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul) on June 28, 1959 at Richardson Stadium, Kingston ON. Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and Kingston Mayor William T. Mills look on. Photograph originally published on the cover of the Kingston Whig-Standard, June 29, 1959.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Upon...

Hiroshima Day – August 6

Hiroshima Day – August 6

BY PAULINE LALLY, SP Social scientist, Brené Brown says we need to show up for collective moments of joy and sorrow so that we can bear witness to inextricable human connections.  That’s why we go to funerals, protests, sports events, concerts, Sunday Mass.  Collective celebrations and anniversaries – both joyful and painful – contribute to a life filled with a sense of connection. That’s what August 6 does for me each summer.  With others we...

Heathfield Villa

Heathfield Villa

In the late 1840s the property we know as Heathfield was compiled when three smaller parcels of land, were purchased by Alex Forbes to create a 30 acre lot.

The Motherhouse and its grounds

The Motherhouse and its grounds

The Motherhouse and its grounds have changed a lot since 1932, but are still very recognizable! These four photographs show how the landscaping in front of the Motherhouse and the Motherhouse itself have changed over the years.

Sisters!

Sisters!

Sr. M. Henry, Sr. M. Juliana, and Sr. Mary Seven Dolors McMahon.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Numerous siblings have entered the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul over the years. Religious life was not the right fit for some of these women, but many sets of siblings did live out their lives together as Sisters of Providence, including 7 sets of three siblings: the Byrne sisters, the Mangan sisters, the Corrigan sisters, the...

The Pope’s appeal

The Pope’s appeal

BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY When a crisis would arise, our General Superior would tell us young teaching Sisters, “Pray, and have the children pray.”  And we would, and things would actually work themselves out somehow.  As the poet Tennyson says, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”  I sincerely hope so, as the invasion of Russia on Ukraine seems like a David and Goliath story. This war has caused great pain in all our...

How the trees have grown!

How the trees have grown!

BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Motherhouse grounds have changed a lot over the years, and yet stayed the same in other ways. These two photographs show how the Motherhouse grounds, from the Main Entrance to Princess Street, have changed over a span of 62 years. The trees have grown A LOT, and the birdbath has been replaced by the Peace Pole, but the basic design remains the same!The photograph above was taken in 1955 and the photograph...

My Opinion

My Opinion

BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY As my sister would say, when she heard ridiculous over-the-top honking, “So you got a horn!  What else did Santa Claus give you for Christmas?”  For the past few weeks Liz’s remarks have echoed repeatedly in my brain.  With the potential for violence, these protests have been far more frightening of late than annoying, in my opinion. What seems to have been an excuse for these protests was the governments’ ordering of...