Divine Providence marks forty year anniversary

Sleepy Eye, MN - After many weeks of hard work and preparation, things were ready for the celebration of the Fortieth Anniversary of Divine Providence Community Home. Christ is truly present on this prairie where the winters can be long and harsh, as the wind whips around you while you walk across frozen ground, and where the spring is always greeted with wonder at the miracle of new life.

In 1960 a small group of Daughters of St. Mary of Providence came to Sleepy Eye, MN, to begin a work of service for the elderly. Things were not easy in the beginning for Sister Mary Riva, Sister Pasqualina Fratangelo, Sister Magdalene Hitzler, Sister Savina Laskowski, but they were strengthened and supported by Christ who was present among them. It was his presence that enabled the home to expand and grow. The various additions that were constructed through the years were each an expression of his presence active in the home.

Today the residents receive the best in nursing care and rehabilitation. Yet all of this could be offered by any other good facility in the area. What makes Divine Providence Community Home special is Christ’s presence, not only in the chapel, but in every aspect of daily life. As Bishop Raymond Lucker stated in his homily for our anniversary Mass: "There is no such thing as a person without value." Just as the farmers around Sleepy Eye reap the fruits of their labors during the fall harvest, so too have we reaped the fruits of Christ’s presence in our home. During our anniversary celebration, three women, Darleen Carroll, Arnolda Fischer, and Darleen Bundy, made promises as Guanellian Cooperators for the first time in Sleepy Eye. In addition, Christ’s presence has been manifested very powerfully among the lay staff who assists the sisters in the care of the residents. Indeed, all worked together for this jubilee celebration: the activity director and her assistant sang at the Mass, one of the bed makers played the organ, the dietary manager and her staff catered the meal. All used their gifts and talents to manifest Christ’s presence within each one, giving living testimony to the worth of each person.

And what does the future hold? Since this is the work of Christ, we can speculate that the elderly will continue to be served in a way that reflects the dignity they possess as children of God. Bishop Raymond Lucker put it very well in his homily: "What identifies us as human beings is that we are beloved children of God. And this home reminds of that." We can dream that others will one day be celebrating Christ’s presence here for one hundred or one hundred and fifty years and beyond! We can hope that other young women will be drawn by grace and by the example of the sisters to give their lives in service to the church by joining the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence and thus keeping the presence of Christ alive for generations to come.