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Ministries in El Salvador

In 1995, the Sisters of Providence received an invitation from the bishop and the pastoral team of a rural area in El Salvador, including the villages of La Papalota and Angela Montano.

At the time, the long-running civil war in El Salvador that led to thousands of deaths

Women from Mother Joseph Province who participated in the 30th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero in 2010 included (from left) Sister Pauline Lemaire, Provincial Superior Karin Dufault, Providence Associate Colleen Seed, Provincial Councilor Maureen Newman, Sister Gabrielle Nguyen and Sister Fran Stacey. Seated in front of them is Monsignor Bishop Cabera, who welcomed the Sisters of Providence to El Salvador 15 years before.

and the destruction of the nation’s economy and infrastructure had ended. The Salvadoran people were struggling to rebuild their country and their lives.

The Sisters of Providence were impelled by the charity of Christ to establish a mission in El Salvador. They sent five sisters: Isabel Cid, Marilyn Charette, Frances Stacey, Kathryn “Kitsy” Rutan and Ema Maureira. In his homily at a Mass on the occasion of the sisters’ arrival, Bishop Rodrigo Orlando Cabrera presented them to the people, saying, “I give you the Sisters of Providence as a gift of God.”

Tree-planting symbolizes sisters' desire to root and grow

“It was very moving,” an excerpt from the sisters’ mission report noted.

“At the offertory we presented our constitutions, the framed text of our Providence song, an image of Mary at the foot of the cross, and a little tree. At the end of the Mass, we planted the tree in front of our house to symbolize our insertion in this land and our desire to root and grow here. While Bishop Cabrera blessed the house, we sang our ‘Hymn to Divine Providence.’”

In 2005, the Sisters of Providence celebrated 10 years in solidarity with the people of El Salvador. During the celebration, Cruz Castillo of La Paplota commented on the effect the presence of the sisters had on her and her family. The sisters were there for her during times of family crises, listening and offering support. This increased her faith and courage. She could not read the Bible until the sisters began literacy classes, and her children had little chance of getting an education.

Providence Associates in Portland gather around one of the young Salvadoran women they have raised funds to help educate, Sr. Margarita Hernandez (center). Sr. Katherine Smith (left), liaison to the group, joined in.

Each year, Providence Health International takes a delegation to El Salvador to see firsthand the people and the communities that the sisters serve. Last year, a group of Sisters of Providence and one Providence Associate joined in El Salvador’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Today, one of the founding sisters at the mission, Sister Frances Stacey, remains in Angela Montano and serves in Sector Rutilio. She is joined by Sister Pauline Lemaire. One of the many ways they are making a difference is through interaction with the young people by helping children who are having difficulty with reading and also providing scholarships to help young women and men obtain an education.

These students from rural areas are among the poorest of the poor. Their families cannot afford the tuition, clothing and books needed for their education. When they are able to go to school, their education usually would end by grade 5 or 6. With help from the scholarship fund, dozens have gone on to high school and even to universities.

Students live their Christian commitment

Sr. Pauline Lemaire helps a Salvadoran boy with his reading.

Junior high school students need about $60 to start off the school year in January and then $10 a month for transportation to their local school. High school students need a start-up fund and then between $35 and $40 monthly, depending on the distance they live from their high school. A university scholarship provides students with between $50 and $150 monthly.

These young people are recognized as leaders and, with the help of scholarship donors, are living their dreams.

Every student is giving back to her or his community in a variety of ways. They are not “working” for their scholarship; they are entering into their Christian commitment to build community and to reach out to those in need.

All of these young people regularly voice their gratitude for those who are giving them a hand up, changing their lives and the lives of their families.

The Sisters of Providence are grateful to those who are helping these young women and men create a future full of hope.

Providence Associates raise student scholarships

Among the faithful scholarship donors are the Providence Associates in Portland, Ore. Since December 1996, one of their regular endeavors has been raising scholarship funds for students in El Salvador. They began by fasting for one meal every Monday and donating the money saved to the scholarship fund.

Since then they have incorporated other fund-raising activities that have raised thousands of dollars for scholarships. The Providence Associates were delighted in 2005 when one of the scholarship students, Margarita Hernandez, entered the religious community.

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A glimpse of life in El Salvador

Sisters of Providence have served in ministry in El Salvador since 1995. Over the years, several sisters have worked and lived among the people there, and delegations of Providence Associates and employees from Providence Health & Services have journeyed there to lend a hand with housing, medical and community needs. Today, Mother Joseph Province includes three Salvadorian sisters in formation.

To view a photo gallery of life in El Salvador, click here.