Sister Mary Providence Kriley, is a living example of what it means to be a Woman of Providence for the world. Sister entered religious life from the town of Herman, Pa. From a devout Catholic family of 11 children, Sister is one of three daughters who became Sisters of Divine Providence (Sister Sylvester Kriley, deceased 2003, and Sister Mary Kriley).
A graduate of Divine Providence Academy, Sister Mary Providence earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Emmanuel College in Boston and a master’s degree in biology with a minor in mathematics from Villanova University. She began her ministry as an educator, teaching high school students. After 10 years in the classroom, she answered the call to missionary work and traveled to Puerto Rico in 1957. Sister embraced her ministry there, teaching high school in Arecibo and Utuado. She also taught at Catholic University in Arecibo.
Sister Mary Providence has devoted her life to being present — being Providence — to these people. In Santo Domingo, being present means actively participating in parish life, and most importantly, spending time with the people and listening. Sister Mary Providence ministers at the St. Martin de Porres Center, doing whatever is needed. She dedicates her time to the 30 or more elderly people who visit daily, the blind, ill, mentally handicapped and lonely. Often, one of these individuals brings along a grandchild who has special needs, a child who may not be able to attend school because of behavioral problems. They eat and pray together, they share some fun, while also listening to each other’s joys and sorrows in familiar conversation. She also visits the elderly and the sick who are homebound, bringing her kind words and the Eucharist to them.
Sister’s own words, written in a letter to her community, speak eloquently of her love for the people of Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo and of the inspiration she draws from being among them. “Daily, when I see ladies carrying water, men trying to sell hot buns, fruit, vegetables and eggs, children on the way to school, other little ones without shoes and a few without any clothes at all, I am reminded of a perpetual Exodus on the way to the Promised Land. In the meantime, I continue to try to be a presence to them as each dear person is one for me”.