0
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adios, Au revoir, goodbye…these are words said with a heart full of gratitude for the last ten years of my ministry with the Women of Providence in Collaboration and the seven years the first time. To say this ministry has become synonymous with my being would be an understatement.
As the Director of WPC, I feel I have become a better Providence woman, largely in part because of all of you! Over the years I have met so many wonderful Providence women from the congregations who belong to WPC. The first, of course, are the founders. I feel privileged to have met Michelle Holland before her death and feel even more grateful for the friendship I share with Ruth McGoldrick still and the ways she has supported me in this endeavor.
Then there is the Board of Directors, which changes over time due to leadership terms of their own. I have been privileged to work for and with a magnificent group of women leaders over all these years. Their guidance, leadership, and affirmation are gifts in my life and some of the close friendships I have made with several of them I know will carry on into the future.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Core Planning Teams of Providence Events over the years. It’s too many to name them all, but you know who you are! These Providence Sisters and Associates brought wonderful talents and skills to bear in the planning of such events. We all benefited from their sharing of gifts. There are also the conferences of our WPC subgroups over the years, the Vocation/Formation/Leadership Sisters, the Associate Leadership group (ALG), the newly formed JPIC (Providence Justice Collective) group, and the 55 and Under Sisters group. Each of these have women and men of Providence willing to step up to the plate and help to plan their events. I could never have done it alone.
Then, of course, is the “staff” behind the scenes. This is a one woman office but I have always been blessed with volunteer help. The wonderful Collaboration newsletter would not be as great as it is without the expertise of David Lavender! The “computer guy” I go to when I need help is Gil Weyhaupt, who always comes through for me and figures it out! The bookkeeper, who uses the QuickBooks program was my roommate, Beverly Camper, now deceased, but who from her hospital bed asked her best friend, Carol Patterson, to help me and Carol graciously has done so over these last two years every month. When they say it takes a village, it’s true!
While I don’t officially leave until the end of August, this will be my last “From the Director” page in the Newsletter. People have been asking me what I will do next. Honestly, I don’t know. I do know two things: it was time for a change for WPC, a fresh face with more technological skills and some new ideas; and, secondly, I know that our Provident God will put something in my path for my next piece of the journey. Of that I’m confident based on past history. Jeremiah 29:11-14 has long been the Scripture that accompanies my journey. God has a plan for my future…it just hasn’t been revealed yet!
New Executive Director Named
Lastly, I am happy to announce that the Board has hired a new WPC Executive Director. Her name is Mary Stanco, HM. Mary is a Humility of Mary Sister from Villa Maria, PA. Mary’s personal strengths and qualifications align with the needs and mission of the Women of Providence in Collaboration. She brings experiences in nonprofit management, creativity and strategic thinking, technology, communication, and leadership. She has coordinated programs and events in her former ministries and been a part of the LCWR Collaborative Leadership Program. She also is a member of Giving Voice and helped to plan their 2005 Gathering as well as the 2019 Leadership Collaborative Biennial Gathering.
We hope to have a special mini-issue of Collaboration in the summer where Mary can introduce herself to you from her first “From the Director” page. In the meantime, I welcome her and look forward to working with her in the transition of the WPC office.
So my friends, though I say goodbye, I’m hoping our paths will cross in different ways in future times. May our Provident God bless each of you for the gift you have been in my life, and I promise to hold you in my heart and prayer always.
Now read about all the marvelous things our WPC communities are doing to make the world a better place!
Blessings and love,
Sister Barbara
Related Stories
