A rematriation ceremony was the culmination of 20 years of the Sisters’ commitment to saving heirloom seed varieties. This is not the end of the story of the seeds, only a new beginning in new homes as it once had been when the seeds moved in with the Sisters.

As the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul plan for Providence Village on the Motherhouse ground, the Archives has started planning for its future location. When the congregation comes to completion it is incredibly important that the history and contribution of the Sisters be remembered and continue to be made accessible.

Jubilees are joyous occasions to acknowledge and celebrate the many years of dedication in answering God’s call to religious life. Celebrating 70 years are Sisters Anna Marie Willer, Rita Hanson, and Charlotte Kramps. Celebrating 61 years is Sister Reinalda Kloosterman, and 60 years is Sister Pauline Lally. 

Barbara was one of the first people to make commitment as a Providence Associate in 1987. She was a woman of deep faith who served her community as a register nurse and her family as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

The April 2019 AGM/AGEM for the Providence Associates was one of transformation. The weekend went amazingly well. Through the prayerful guidance and facilitation of Alice Gazeley CND Associate, we worked very hard and elected a new Providence Associate Committee who will be working with the Director, Barbara Baker and Council Liaison, Sister Gayle Desarmia for the next three years.

Each year, the Seasonal Planning Committee, a sub-committee of the Congregational Liturgy Committee, gathers for an afternoon of reflection and faith sharing on the scripture readings of the Paschal Cycle. This period includes the Lenten Season, Holy Week, the Paschal Triduum and the Easter Season culminating in the celebration of Pentecost. Based on the shared reflection, this year’s focus is Come, Journey to Transformation.

The sights, sounds and smells of Carabayllo and other areas were very familiar to me. If I closed my eyes, it was as if I was back in mission in Malawi. There are a lot of similarities but there are also a lot of differences.

November 21, 2018 Sister Gayle Desarmia and Providence Associate Mary Olenick left Kingston for Peru. This trip was memorable because Mary was the first Canadian Associate to visit the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul mission in Peru.