On 15th July, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of our presence in the Netherlands. We publish here the homily delivered by Father Jansen, in which he highlights significant elements of this history.
Sermon by Father Jansen
On this day, at this very hour, the past flows back into the present...
In April 1841, the young priest Eduard Michelis was deeply moved by the plight of physically and spiritually neglected children in St. Mauritz. On 3rd November, 1842, the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence was founded. To this day, the congregation has spread worldwide, with a presence even on the island of Príncipe, off the west coast of Africa.
On this day, at this very hour, the past flows back into the present...
On 11th February, 1876, driven by the pressure and influence of the Kulturkampf in Germany, a group of sisters arrived in the Netherlands. They settled first in Blerick and later in Steyl. And it may well have been a coincidence: here in Steyl, where we are gathered today, the Sisters of Divine Providence once managed the household for the SVD priests and brothers.
The congregation flourished in the Netherlands; numerous convents across the country were engaged in running schools and hospitals, as well as providing care for the disabled, community nursing and domestic services.
On this day, at this hour, the past flows back into the present...
Seventy years ago, Sister Agnes committed her life to the congregation and began her work in education.
On this day, at this hour, the past flows back into the present...
In 1948, I attended the kindergarten in Helden, where Sister Irene was my teacher. To this day, I cherish fond memories of that year. From the very first day, I felt at ease with her. Her cheerfulness was contagious; she had a playful nature.
In 1969, I spent a few months working as a curate in the city center of Venlo, at Saint Martin Parish. One afternoon, the doorbell rang. Standing at the door was a nun whom I recognized immediately: Sister Irene! Raising her hands, she exclaimed: “My little kindergartner!”
During the war, my mother was severely injured by a shell blast. She was hospitalized and later allowed to recuperate at the convent of the Sisters of Divine Providence.
The community nurse, Sister Carissima, was also closely involved with our family; she rode a lightweight motorcycle—something quite remarkable at the time. We owe them a great deal.
Today, we gather to commemorate and celebrate how God provided for us through the Sisters of Divine Providence.
We can look back on a history marked by significant events. There were many ups, but also downs. Political and social developments and changes affected everything and everyone.
The changes within the Church did not go unnoticed by the congregation, either. The congregation remained active not only within the country’s borders but also far beyond them, in other countries and on other continents.
Running through all of this like a common thread was the inspiration of Eduard Michelis: attention and care for vulnerable people. Encountering God means being there for people in need, offering help where it is required and providing people with a good quality of life. This is what may be called “Providence”: allowing the incarnation of God to happen and unfold.
That incarnation of God was brought close to us and made visible in the life of Jesus. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are called to continue that incarnation.
The Holy Trinity is the basis and foundation upon which our faith is built. This is why we can believe in and rely on God’s Providence, and why, rooted in that faith, we continually seek to respond to the needs of the times—just as Eduard Michelis did, and countless women after him, with Saint Vincent de Paul as their guiding light and protector.
On this day, at this hour, the past flows back into the present...
We give thanks and we remember. Yet, remembering does not mean dwelling merely on the past. To remember is to look ahead and to continue believing in God’s Providence. The words of the founder remain relevant today: to bring healing to people and thus glorify God. That was true in the beginning, it is true now, and it will be true forever.
For one hundred and fifty years, the Sisters of Divine Providence have made this visible—not only in the Netherlands but across the globe, reaching as far as Príncipe.
Divine Providence knows no boundaries; it constantly breaks through in unexpected places and at unexpected times. Often, this happens precisely amidst human suffering, for therein lie the opportunities to bring healing and to honor God by serving others.
In this hour, on this day, the past flows back into the present...
In prayer, we wish to thank God for what has been, celebrate what is, and ask for a blessing upon what is to come: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.