Three Sisters of Providence from the Bernarda Morin region who traveled to Seattle to participate in both Community Days and Jubilee shared their reflections and impressions. Read the accounts of Srs. Gladys Flores, Ana Rozas, and Claudia Ruiz below.
“The Sisters reminded me of the power of unity”
By Sr. Gladys Flores, SP
I was invited to participate in “Community Days 2026” of the Mother Joseph region, held from July 13-15 in the city of Renton, in the United States. I am deeply grateful for the days I spent with the Sisters of Mother Joseph.
It was a gift to hear what unity sounds like: in prayer, in song, at shared meals, and in service. I also felt what unity feels like through fraternal welcome, working together, and in the certainty that we are part of the same family: we are Sisters of Providence.
At the celebrations for our Sisters marking their Jubilees, there was an atmosphere of joy and hope. Celebrating the selfless lives of our Sisters reminded me that faithfulness bears fruit and that God sustains every step. It was a living lesson of love and perseverance.
I am also grateful for the days following the gathering, for the Sisters’ kindness in taking us to see the beautiful places of their land, for the fellowship we shared on our outings, and for introducing us to the people we met along the way. Every landscape and every face spoke to me of God’s Providence and made me feel at home.
In the midst of a world marked by division, the Sisters reminded me of the power of unity; they confirmed that we are called to be a voice amid the division that surrounds us — a voice that builds bridges, that welcomes, and that proclaims hope.
Thank you to the Sisters for their witness, for their generosity, and for opening not only the doors of their community to me, but also their hearts. May God’s Providence continue to bless their mission. I am eternally grateful for this wonderful pilgrimage of unity.
“Gratitude and joy for our experience in Seattle“
By Sr. Ana Rozas, SP
With a heart full of gratitude, I would like to express my most sincere thank you for the generous invitation to participate in the Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph 2026 Community Days. It was a source of deep joy to make the trip to Seattle to share these days with the Sisters in an experience truly filled with blessings.
Reconnecting with some Sisters and having the gift of meeting others allowed me to confirm the warmth, joy, and sisterly affection that characterize the community. We Sisters from Chile felt fully integrated into each of the shared moments, witnessing in the Sisters from the United States women of deep prayer, with open hearts and ears attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, it was gratifying to witness the commitment of the lay collaborators, united to the mission with sincere love and an impeccable understanding of the charism of Providence.
I am especially grateful for the warm welcome we received at St. Joseph Residence. I also extend my thanks to Sr. Lucy Vazquez for her kindness in guiding us on a tour of the facilities at St. Joseph Residence, a place where we had the privilege of conversing and sharing with its residence, including a dear brother priest. A particularly moving moment that filled me with joy and love was the visit, guided by Sr. Lucy, to the Sisters who reside on the third floor of St. Joseph Residence; being able to hug them and spend time with each of them was an invaluable gift. Likewise, I cherish the enriching conversations in the dining hall with the Sisters, among whom I remember with special affection Sr. Kathryn Rutan, Sr. Myrta Iturriaga, and so many other admirable Sisters.
The celebration in honor of the Sisters marking their Jubilees allowed us to share in life and vocation in an atmosphere of celebration and faith. The subsequent Mass and reception, in the company of family members and so many laypeople who had come from various mission sites, reflected the vitality and scope of their apostolic work.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my gratitude for Sr. Marisol Ávila, whose dedication and generosity accompanied us for several days as she invited us to visit significant mission sites and witness the region’s wonderful landscapes. I also thank the Sisters who were with us during this time of sharing life for their kind, loving, and joyful presence: Sr. Lorena González and Sr. Ana Orellana.
May God’s Providence continue to bless their lives and mission abundantly.
With deep affection and gratitude, I send a warm embrace to each and every one of the Sisters of Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
“A profound experience of faith and fellowship”
By Sr. Claudia Ruiz, SP
The Community Days at Mother Joseph gave me a profound experience of faith and sisterhood. Above all, it was a sacred space to once again share life with the Sisters and witness firsthand the richness that is built day-by-day in the region.
During this gathering, I was once again able to witness the beautiful communion among the Sisters, the Providence Associates, the collaborators, and the sponsors. In this shared dynamic, the old and new are harmoniously intertwined; the richness of history blends with the freshness of new initiatives, demonstrating that tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.
I was particularly moved by the deep affection and respect with which the staff treat each of the Sisters, as well as the warmth with which the Sisters, together with them, welcome the Sisters arriving from other areas or regions. In that embrace, there are no borders or national differences; one can feel the genuine experience of being one Providence family.
My heart is filled with immense gratitude. For me, giving thanks today means reconnecting with the Sisters, reliving with them the daily routine, the sharing, the spirituality, and the charism. It was a gift to pray with them again, to be by their side once more. Added to that joy is the emotion of witnessing the continuity of this story: 11 years after having shared life there, I see that this reality remains intact, alive, and evident in their ongoing social commitment.
Those days left me with the certainty that we are embodying the living call of our vocation — the profound truth that, beyond any distance or border, we are a single canonical congregation, united in the same spirit and beating the same Mission to be the living face of Providence. That is why I say: Providence of God, I thank you for all.