A history of Women of Providence in Collaboration

In 1978 Michelle Holland, SP of Spokane, Wash. contacted other religious communities with Providence in their titles to determine interest in exploring together the theology and spirituality of Providence. There was tremendous interest, and the dream became reality in 1980 when the first Providence Event was held in Great Falls, Montana. Though men and women from Providence communities had been invited, only the women came. About 80 sisters gathered to build connections with one another and to begin to articulate a theology and spirituality of Providence. They agreed to meet again in two years.

In 1982 the group gathered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. for their second Providence Event. A steering committee was established, and Women of Providence in Collaboration was born. The first steering committee members were: Michelle Holland, SP of Spokane, Barbara Doherty, SP of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Kathleen Popko, SP of Holyoke, Mary Joan Coultas, CDP of Pittsburgh, and Anita Green, CDP of St. Louis.

In 1991 the presidents of the now 12-member organization established the national office of the Women of Providence in Collaboration. Mary Catherine Hunt, CDP from Melbourne, KY served as its first executive director until September 2000 at which time Barbara McMullen, CDP from St. Louis, MO became the second executive director. In 2007, Ann Margaret O'Hara, SP of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods stepped into and currently holds that position.

In our history, Women of Providence in Collaboration has held programs, brought formation leaders together, offered retreats and summer opportunities across congregations, and even produced books from certain gatherings. For a full listing, see our timeline of major events. For a diagram of our member congregations from the founding of the organization through the present day, see our Congregational chart.

Women of Providence in Collaboration continues to explore Providence theology and spirituality in our time. The story is not finished, but lives on as we continue to dream and work together to make those dreams come true.