Sister Denise Wilkinson, S.P.
TitleGeneral Superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
PredecessorSister Ann Margaret O'Hara, S.P.
SuccessorSister Dawn Tomaszewski, S.P.

Sister Denise Wilkinson, S.P. is a Catholic leader, writer and educator. She was the Superior General of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 2006 to 2016. During her term, the congregation's foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was canonized a saint. Wilkinson also oversaw the founding of the Providence Associates program, the renovation of several properties at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, and long-range planning for the Sisters of Providence.[1]

Career

Wilkinson attended Marywood High School in Evanston, Illinois, where she was first introduced to the Sisters of Providence congregation. Wilkinson entered the congregation on September 12, 1963 and became a fully professed Sister of Providence on August 25, 1973.[2]

Wilkinson earned a bachelor's degree in English from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She also attended Saint Louis University and received her master's in counseling.[2]

She spent some time as Vice President of Student Affairs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, promoting the college as "a spot to demonstrate works of love, mercy and justice."[3]

In 2006, Wilkinson was elected superior general of the Sisters of Providence when Sister Ann Margaret O'Hara decided not to seek a second term. Wilkinson was re-elected in 2011.[2] Her administration focused on long-range congregation planning and moving the Sisters of Providence toward self-sufficiency.[4] Wilkinson and her administration opened Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis as a sponsored ministry of the Congregation in 2007.

A significant part of Wilkinson's terms involved the canonization of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in October 2006.[5] Over the course of her administration, Wilkinson led the establishment of the permanent shrine of Saint Mother Theodore, which opened in 2014.[6] She also led efforts to streamline the Sisters' finances and maximize use of buildings owned by the congregation.[7]

After two terms as general superior, she was succeeded by Sister Dawn Tomaszewski in the role on September 10, 2016.[8]

References

  1. ^ Casper, Ann (9 September 2016). "Sister Denise Wilkinson: A Reflection". Sisters of Providence. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Sister Denise Wilkinson re-elected as Sisters of Providence general superior". The Criterion. Indianapolis. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ^ Murphy, J. Patrick (1991). Visions and Values in Catholic Higher Education. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 87.
  4. ^ Kelly, Mary Pat (April 2011). "What's the Story with the Nuns?". Irish America. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  5. ^ Briggs, Bill (2012). The Third Miracle: An Ordinary Man, a Medical Mystery, and a Trial of Faith. Broadway Books. p. 158. ISBN 9780767932714.
  6. ^ Trigg, Lisa (22 October 2015). "A holy place: Sisters of Providence work to serve, make a difference". Tribune Star. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. ^ Swaner, Jon (17 March 2015). "Sisters of Providence to close Owens Hall, repurpose Daycare". WTHI. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  8. ^ "New general superior, council selected by Sisters of Providence". Tribune Star. Terre Haute, Indiana. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
Catholic Church titles Preceded bySister Ann Margaret O'Hara, S.P. General Superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 2001 - 2006 Succeeded bySister Dawn Tomaszewski, S.P.
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