Puerto Rico HistoryThe Sisters settled in the coastal town of Arecibo in August 1932. From an account written later by Sister Francis Gabriel Beyerl, getting there was immensely interesting to the Sisters, as they had never seen such delightful tropical flowers or swaying palm trees. Their first convent was actually a house that the Sisters shared with a local family. It was tiny, but spotlessly clean. The Sisters unpacked, and immediately -- dictionary in hand -- set upon their mission to open a school. For the school Sisters, the days were long, filled with class work, their own Spanish lessons, and home visits. The classrooms were small and crowded. They often taught 35 or more students in a classroom that was above a pen where chickens were cackling and cows mooing! Three days a week after school and on Saturdays, the Sisters traveled to the campos (outskirts of town) to teach religion. The first two years they suffered the deprivations that missionaries often are called upon to bear; inadequate housing space, no good drinking water, different food, and the difficulty of learning a new culture and language. But great was the spirit of community, and their hard work was rewarded with success as school enrollment tripled by 1934. Everything grew – school enrollment, catechism classes, high school programs – and with the growth, more Sisters came to the missions. The Community also was blessed to welcome Puerto Rican women into vowed membership. By 1935, there were two native vocations with more expected. No doubt that in the beginning there were difficult times, but the people of Puerto Rico were warm and welcoming and Providence took root in Puerto Rico. In the midst of the day to day, the Sisters also were actively involved in the administration of several school systems: Colegio San Miguel in Utuado, Colegio San Felipe in Arecibo, and San Juan Bautista elementary in Orocovis (closed 1978), and in the later years, teaching at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Nursing. Their leadership and vision, coupled with their dedication and hard work, contributed to building a strong foundation and the assurance that these institutions would survive to serve the people of Puerto Rico for the future. The ensuing years were marked with growth as the Sisters continued in the ministry of education, pastoral ministry and nursing. Their mission -- to serve the needs of the times – has guided ministry throughout the years. The Sisters have moved from traditional education and healthcare ministries to offering support through social services. A number of Sisters minister through the Office of Human Promotion and Development in the Diocese of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Sister Roberta Grzelak has recently retired as the director, Sister Veronica Oravec is administrator. The office networks with government and private agencies to connect people with the agencies that can help them. They provide referrals to other professionals. They offer programming and follow up with support groups.
The most successful component of this ministry is the ability to empower people. According to Sister Roberta, “We don’t do it for them. We find out what the community, or their family, or they can do for themselves and how they can help each other.” The people that come to the Office seeking help want a better life. They are children who have fallen through the cracks of the social services system, girls as young as 15 with two children, they may be addicted to drugs, usually come from poor homes with no incentive. They need the dream of a better life. They have no idea how to build good relationships and are condemned to a life of suffering. The Office gives hope to the hopeless. “Some people are resilient,” said Sister Roberta. “No matter how life pushes them down, they fight to make it better. They just need someone to believe in them. We believe in them, that they can make their life different. We give them a start, things begin to become better, it never ends. They just keep blooming. These people go back and help others.” Sister Ana Lydia Sonera Matos also ministers at the Office of Human Promotion and Development. Her work as a counselor has given her the opportunity to make visible God’s Providence. “Many of the women I work with are the sole support of their families. They are without strength, injured, with low self-esteem, and very, very hurt”, she said. Through the services of the Office, Sister Ana Lydia says that these women reconnect with their inner strength, healing their wounds and believing deeply in themselves and in their potential. “Every time a woman looks at herself with respect and looks at another woman with faith and trust, there is an ALLELUIA of Providence in our office,” she said. “Right there we see and celebrate God’s Providence in each of these women.”
In 1993, the Congregation expanded its ministry to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Today, Sister Myriam Colón, from Puerto Rico, directs a parish youth ministry program, guiding the young and helping them set personal and educational goals. She is also active in vocation ministry among the young women of the area. Sister Mary Providence Kriley, a native of Herman, Pa., has been a missionary sister for 50+ years, having spent more than 36 years in Puerto Rico. She brings God’s compassion to the sick and the frail elderly through her kind and loving care.
An outward sign that Providence has truly taken root in Santo Domingo is the opening of a novitiate. A house suitable for the novitiate was located and the first Sisters will soon move in. The novice director will be Sister Inesita Velez Negron, who has recently completed 12 years in Congregational leadership. Sister Wendolyn López Santos, has been inspired by her connection with the Sisters of Divine Providence in Santo Domingo. She will profess first vows this September. She resides at the novitiate with Sisters Inesita and Juanita Torres. She will spend the next few years learning more about the mission of the Congregation, religious life and Providence spirituality. In addition to Sister Wendolyn, there are several other young woman actively considering their call to religious life. The work of the Sisters who have ministered in Santo Domingo is beginning to bear fruit. These young women will walk the path made by their predecessors and, hopefully, will influence those who come after them to join in their mission to make God’s Providence more visible.
The many Sisters of Divine Providence who accepted the call to missionary work in the early days shared common character traits. They were adventurous, welcoming challenge and opportunity. They were willing to step into the unknown and place their trust in our Provident God. They were hard working and selfless. Their hearts were filled with their love of God and their dedication to the mission of the Congregation. Their example and the legacy they have left has inspired those who have followed them into ministry in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. The pioneering spirit is alive and well in the women to whom they have passed the torch.
Other Sisters in Puerto Rico include: - Elizabeth Arbelo, social worker
- Aracelia Cruz, former principal, current archivist
- Carmen González, canon lawyer, former provincial councillor
- Elsa Medina, studying English at La Roche College in Pittsburgh
- Rose Elena Reyes, resides in Pittsburgh (formerly pastoral ministry)
- Margarita Rivera, home nursing
- Juanita Torres, religious education, parish ministry
- Maria Milagros Torres, director of associates, special education teacher
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