What Is the Mission of the Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph?

Updated

The Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph describe their mission as giving "a human face to Providence" and testifying to the love of God. They carry this out by engaging compassionately with people who are poor and vulnerable—specifically those whose basic needs are not met, victims of injustice, the rejected, the marginalized, and the voiceless. If you are trying to understand whether this community's purpose aligns with your own values or interests, the mission centers on direct, compassionate service rather than on abstract statements.

The Core Mission in the Community's Own Words

The website states the mission plainly: "As Sisters of Providence we give a human face to Providence and testify to the love of God." This is the organizing idea behind everything else the community does.

The mission has two connected parts:

  • Giving a human face to Providence — making the presence and care of God visible through concrete relationships and service.
  • Testifying to the love of God — living in a way that demonstrates that love to others.

These are not separate goals. The community treats service itself as the way the mission becomes real.

Who the Mission Is Directed Toward

The mission names specific groups rather than speaking only in general terms. According to the site, the Sisters engage compassionately with:

  • People who are poor and vulnerable
  • Those whose basic needs are not met
  • Victims of injustice
  • The rejected
  • The marginalized
  • The voiceless

This list matters if you are evaluating the community. It shows the mission is defined by who is served, not only by what is believed.

How the Mission Shows Up in Practice

The mission is expressed through ministries and service roles rather than remaining a statement. Examples from the site include:

  • Mission Service Opportunities — Sr. Susanne Hartung leads a program connecting Providence St. Joseph Health caregivers with service opportunities in their communities.
  • International ministry — Sr. Vilma Franco ministers in the mountainous Arcatao region of El Salvador and helps repair a house.
  • Environmental witness — Sr. Charlene Hudon, Chair of the Sisters of Providence Earth Committee, participates in a roadside demonstration in Seattle.
  • Healthcare chaplaincy — Sr. Phuong Ha Nguyen serves as chaplain at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles.
  • Ministry with deaf people — Sr. Judith Desmarais has long been involved in ministry in service of those who are deaf.
  • Food and basic needs — Sr. Chloe Keitges participates in the "My Grocery Bag" ministry project at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle; Sr. Marie-Thérèse Gnamazo ministers at the West Seattle Food Bank.
  • Education and scholarships — Sr. Marita Capili ministers to children in the Beca scholarship program in El Salvador; Sr. Paula Cosko has taught English as a second language for more than three decades at North Seattle College.
  • Service to people experiencing homelessness — Sr. Bea LaFramboise leads groups of students through downtown Seattle for the "Sacred Encounters" ministry, providing food and other necessities.
  • Vocations and formation — Sr. Marisol Avila, Vocations Director, speaks to formation gatherings that bring hundreds of young people together in central Washington.
  • Health ministry — Sr. Rosa Sen Nguyen assists a girl at a Vietnamese health clinic.

These examples show the mission operating across healthcare, education, food access, housing, ministry to deaf people, environmental concerns, and youth formation.

What This Means If You Are Evaluating the Community

If your question is whether the mission matches your concerns, the site gives you clear criteria to check against:

  • Does the community prioritize people who are poor, vulnerable, and marginalized?
  • Does it treat meeting basic needs and addressing injustice as part of its purpose?
  • Does it express its mission through sponsored ministries and community service rather than only through statements?

The Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph answer yes to each of these on their own site. The mission is defined by compassionate engagement with specific groups and by service carried out in real settings—hospitals, food banks, clinics, classrooms, and neighborhoods.