A white cross divides the blue shield into four parts: In the two upper spaces are an anchor and a lily.  In the two lower spaces are a lily and heart.  The cross represents humility, our distinctive spirit; the anchor, the confidence and trust we have in Almighty God; the heart, the love which we give to all children to whose training we have dedicated ourselves as religious. The lilies represent the purity of our hearts and intentions.  Likewise, the lilies symbolize the complete oblation of ourselves and our dependence upon God's Providence, recalled by words of our Blessed Lord:  "Consider the lilies of the field: they labor not, neither do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these!"

Oblate Sisters of Providence

Oblate Sisters of Providence Coat of Arms

Oblate Sisters of Providence Credal Statements

   We, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, having discerned the Gospel origins of our Congregation, and after profound reflection on our founding and our history, declare the following as our most cherished beliefs:

    We believe as did our Foundress Mother Mary Lange OSP, and our Founder Reverend James Nicholas Hector Joubert SS, that God provided, does provide and will provide.

    We believe as an African American Congregation of multicultured women religious, we are a unique and visible testimony of the Church and a constant challenge to its authenticity to be the voice of Jesus Christ to all people.

    We believe we are called to be radically transformed in order to face the challenges of confronting society and the church.

     We believe in the prophetic role we must fulfill in our day to expose and to overcome every form of racism which continues to divide our society and our church and injure our families.

    We believe the suffering that has been intrinsic to our Congregation from its beginning enables us to reach out to others with tenderness and compassion.

    We believe our Oblate vocation calls and enables us to embrace all people equally with dignity and respect, free from any form of prejudice, discrimination or distrust.

    We believe we are guided by the holy Spirit to see Christ in each person, thus liberating, educating, and healing all, especially youth, the aged and the poor.

Declaration of Mission

      We, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, faithful to our charism and the Spirituality of our Founders and trusting in Divine Providence, declare our mission is to embrace and to serve others with the same compassion with which Christ embraces us, sharing with all the unconditional love of the Suffering Jesus.

Statement of Charism

   The original inspiration of the Oblate Sisters of Providence is that gift of the Spirit so evident in the life of Mother Mary Lange.  This charism enables us, with total trust in God's Providence, to bring joy, healing and the liberating, redemptive love of the suffering Jesus to the victims of poverty, racism and injustice despite contradictions, prejudice and pain.

Oblate Spirituality

   Oblate Spirituality, founded in and relying upon a loving Providence, is revealed in a deep, personal relationship with God and a manifest love, trust and respect for all.

  Oblate Spirituality rests, therefore, upon three great Gospel truths which we embrace with our whole being:

• that God has provided, does provide, and will provide,
  

• that Jesus, our Brother and Redeemer has suffered, died and risen to enable us to live not only for self, but for others-
  

• that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen us in all situations.
  

  Oblate Spirituality is expressed in these special ways:

• participation in the Eucharistic Liturgy-
  

• continuing and deep reflection on the Word of God-
  

• communal and personal prayer-
  

• an active discernment which seeks the will of God in obedience to the Spirit-
  

• love and compassion for one another-
  

• reaching out to heal the needy, especially victims of racism, injustice, prejudice and greed.
  

Our Oblate Commitments

    We commit ourselves to seek God's Providence in every action of our daily lives.

    We commit our lives to a profound spirituality expressed in everything we do.

    We commit ourselves to an ongoing awareness of and a positive response to the needs of the times.

   We commit ourselves to value all life from conception until death.

    We commit ourselves to bring the message of freedom and salvation to those who are oppressed by racism, ignorance, illiteracy, and moral decline.

    We commit ourselves to family life, upholding the dignity and defending the rights of each family, especially of women and children.

    We commit ourselves to the prophetic call of the Consecrated Life courageously naming what is unjust, defending the rights of all people and working together to implement the Gospel message in service to the poor.

    We commit ourselves to remain faithful, hopeful and joyful, while continuing to work for the Glory of God in spite of obstacles.

Intolerables

     In view of our firm commitments, we, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, shall not tolerate any expression of racism, prejudice, discrimination, violence or injustice that violates the sanctity of life, demeans the dignity of the human person and desecrates family life.