2026 Vocations Awareness Supplement
Providence Sisters celebrate new postulant, profession of perpetual vows
Providence Sister Dawn Tomaszewski places a ring on a finger of Providence Sister Jessica Vitente on Aug. 8 in the motherhouse chapel of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in St. Mary-of-the-Woods. The ritual was part of Sister Jessica professing perpetual vows as a member of the congregation. At the time, Sister Dawn was superior general of the Sisters of Providence. (Photos courtesy of the Sisters of Providence)
By Jason Moon (Special to The Criterion)
For Providence Sister Jessica Vitente and Jessica Sun, the summer of 2026 was memorable and monumental.
Sister Jessica, a native of Pomona, Cali., professed perpetual vows as a member of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, while Jessica Sun, from northern Virginia, entered the congregation on Sept. 4 as a postulant.
Sister Jessica entered the Sisters of Providence on Sept. 10, 2018. She received the title of Sister on Aug. 3, 2019, and later professed first vows in 2021. On Aug. 8, she professed perpetual vows.
She admitted the eight-year journey has been eye-opening.
“I was attracted to the Sisters of Providence because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” she confessed. “I wanted a life of ministry and service to deepen my relationship with God.
“More importantly, I was curious about how these women of providence were living their lives through their charisms of love, mercy and justice.”
For Sun, the road leading to the Sisters of Providence began in 2023.
“As an activist turned activist-and-person-of-faith, the starting place for my discernment was an October 2023 Catholic sign-on letter to President Biden calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” Sun said. “The Sisters of Providence were one of the women religious order signatories, and that began my providential journey with the dear vocation director Sister Joni Luna.”
During her journey to perpetual vows, Sister Jessica said that, while she was already responding to where God was calling her, she felt compelled to search for more.
“When I met the Sisters of Providence, I had a deep desire for a new purpose,” Sister Jessica said. “I believed I had a purpose, but the vision was murky.”
Now eight years into her life as a woman religious, she said she is at peace.
“There is deep peace and deep joy in finally being a perpetually vowed Sister of Providence at this stage of my life,” Sister Jessica said. “It is a great feeling to feel joyfully confident in living out the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, to trust and enjoy wherever my provident God calls me to respond to the needs of this time and to follow the path providence traced for me. I will follow it.”
Sun’s journey has only started with the Sisters of Providence, but she is looking forward to it.
“I am deeply drawn to the charism of love, mercy and justice, and I am in awe of how the Sisters of Providence have continued to be open to the Spirit and change with the times,” Sun said. “I love that the sisters are unabashed in speaking out for God’s just peace and nonviolence in answering Jesus’ call to uplift and advocate for the infinite dignity of every human person, as well as the integrity of creation.”
Sun also said she has drawn much inspiration from the congregation’s foundress, St. Mother Theodore Guérin.
“These sisters are committed to the justice that a true faith leads us to, and I can’t wait to join in this ongoing dance with God with them,” Sun said. “Mother Theodore has become a beautiful, warm leader and mentor I can pray with and be led by. What gentle and great love!”
Sister Jessica added that Aug. 8, 2026, will always be a date she remembers fondly.
“I am still relishing the happiest day of my life so far,” she confessed. “This is the ongoing dialogue I have with my provident God since August: ‘I will always love you and be with you forever. I am what I am and who I am. Give me nothing more than our love and grace. These alone are enough for me.’ ”
(Jason Moon is media relations manager of the Sisters of Providence. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Sister of Providence, contact Sister Joni Luna at 361-500-9505 or at jluna@spsmw.org.) †
