The year 2017 was intensely lived in our province "Mother of Providence". The retreat in everyday life took us all on the search after the "lost Drachma". With joy, then, we celebrated the 3rd November and were happy about the found drachmas.
Before the Festival, a very significant Triduum was carried out in all communities; the material for this was sent to the sisters by the provincial coordination and the training team. The found drachmas were subject of our prayers on the first day. One sister said this: "I celebrate the awareness, that I myself am the Drachma! By the grace of God my own life, my history, my mission task, the encounter with my sisters in the constantly changing situations makes me "a happy sister of Providence”.
Our anniversary was celebrated in our communities, as well as with the people in the base ecclesial communities and parishes; these were good occasions to give testimony of the love of our providential God in our own life and in the history of the Congregation.
The children and adolescents that are in the social projects, in which Sisters of Divine Providence are present, were included in special celebrations; in different ways they expressed their love and thanks towards the sisters.
The messengers of Providence (lay people, who live the charism and spirituality of Divine Providence) were also involved in this celebration. They expressed their appreciation that they can participate in the charism and the spirituality of our Congregation.
In all hospitals of the province the day was celebrated with a Eucharistic Celebration and with due honour: "Hospital São José" (Arroio do Meio, RS), "Hospital Santa Isabel" (Progresso, RS), "Divina Providência hospital" and "Hospital Independência" (Porto Alegre/RS).
An employee of the hospital "Divina Providência", who is with us for many years, expressed it as follows: "Congratulation for the 175 years of the Sisters of Divine Providence! Congratulations also to all the people, who were supported by the sisters, helped and were admitted! Congratulations to all sisters, who have completed their mission and have gone ahead of us. Congratulation to those, who are happy and ready to continue the mission, so that those in need to enable them a more dignified life! The legacy of these 175 years should continue to be told for ever in the history of the Congregation; it is a story that originates in the spirituality and in the love for one’s neighbor and has been faithfully lived in accordance with the teaching of our founder Eduard Michelis. How much has happened all over the world since 1842! This tireless work reached up to our days and we will do what is possible to make it last on forever!"