WINOOSKI, VT - When one thinks of nuns, one thinks habit, floor-length robe, cross, and strict catholic attitude. The Sisters of Our Lady of Providence, and The Sisters of Africa, however, are totally on the flip side.
These Sisters--Sister Pat McKintrick, Sister Arlene, Sister Germaine--to name a few, will shock anyone. At first glance, they portray personas of sweet, tender-hearted, women dedicated to serving their calling from above and devoting their lives to helping those less-fortunate and spreading the message of peace and God’s love around the world. Within a few short hours of their company, one will find perceptions doing a total 180.
Even in their senior years, Sister Arlene, and Sister Germane are spirited, full of life, and the kind of spitfires not found on an everyday basis. While Sister Arlene is sweet, inquisitive, and has a sense of humor that will fill even the emptiest room, Sister Germaine is feisty, quick-witted, and has no qualms about giving her fellow Sisters a few doses of hazing-all within good fun. Sister Pat, the youngest among the trio is bold, sardonic, and a full-fledged joker. With her take-charge attitude, she has earned, affectionately, the status of “The Rebel Nun.”
Through their numerous endeavors, Sister Pat, Sister Arlene, and Sister Germane have developed a close relationship with the citizens of Winooski. Due to their selfless acts of kindness and sacrifice for the people whom they have come to love, the Sisters of Our Lady Providence and Our Sisters of Africa have earned a special place in the hearts of the Winooski community.
Devoted to their vow of helping those less fortunate, over the years, the Sisters have developed several projects that benefit Winooski and in turn create a feeling of family and belonging throughout the community. They have taken a vow of poverty so that they can walk right along side the very same people they have dedicated their lives to helping.
A lot of the projects remain unknown, but some have become popular. Take the Friday Morning Coffee Hour, for instance. Every Friday morning, at the O’Brien Community Center, starting at 9:00 and lasting until 11:00, the Sisters come together to work side by side with the O’Brien staff members to provide a safe place for those who are looking for a sense of belonging. Many of the community come to grab a cup of java, munch on a donut, engage in conversation, and just simply relax among friends.
While Coffee Hour is mostly a social gathering for the elderly, the youngsters do tend to flock towards the free goodies as well. Sister Pat heads the Coffee Hour, with Sister Arlene and Sister Germane at her side. The Sisters receive donations for the breakfast goodies and coffee from companies such as Starbucks, which allows for a win-win scenario. The Winooski area gets a free breakfast on Fridays and Starbucks gets publicity by having its name associated with a charity event.
Residents also work side by side with the nuns to develop a tighter-knit sense of pride for Winooski. Associations such as the Winooski Coalition For A Safe and Peaceful Community (WCSPC) also contribute to these successful Winooski projects. A familiar face that can usually be seen at every Coffee Hour is Kate Nugent, the administrator for the WCSPC.
Kate Nugent would be one of the few who have the closest relationship with the Sisters that exists outside the work place. “I have them over for waffles sometimes. And garden tours. You know, get to know their background. I think Sister Pat is a good personality for me.” Kate and Sister Pat spend much time around each other—Sister Pat is, essentially, Kate’s boss. But the two find a balance between professional and social time, feeding off each other’s attributes. “I think she [Sister Pat] is not afraid to get in people’s faces and stand up for what she believes in. You know, to make things into a big deal if she thinks that they are. She’s not somebody that’s going to let things fly just because it’s going to upset somebody. I don’t think she makes everything a big deal, but I just think she’s very courageous.”
For the last year or so, Kate, Sister Pat, and the other Sisters, have worked together on many of the projects that concern the development of Winooski. Kate is a first hand example of how the nuns can totally flip your perspective in just one meeting. “I think you have to be open-minded. I think one thing is that people tend to hesitate when they find out that there’s going to be nuns around is that they’re going to be criticized, or judged, or feel guilty for—you know—not being pure or whatever. I think that’s really not the case, and that would be the thing that I would tell people. You know, don’t worry about that, they don’t make you feel that way. I think that they’re great and not judgmental. ”
Traditionally, one thinks of nuns as being quiet and demure. But these nuns go against the grain. With enough energy to fill a stadium, enthusiastic attitudes, and a contagious love of live, they make all those within the same vicinity fall under a spell for the same positive outlook. Their sense of humor is what makes gatherings such as Coffee Hour such an enjoyable experience.
The nuns’ influence reaches beyond just the city of Winooski. They welcome all interested parties to be a part of their activities and spread their message of acceptance, peace and camaraderie. Their positive vibes and inviting nature has reached the margins of Burlington itself, expanding as far as Champlain College campus.
The partnership between Champlain College and the O’Brien Community Center provides an opportunity for college students experience the culture of Winooski. Students enrolled in the Ethnographic Writing: Life Stories class, offered during the Fall semester, are required to spend two hours a week at a field site in Winooski. One of the popular choices is the O’Brien Center, where they are exposed to the WCSPC and other organizations. Within their time spent there, they cross paths with the nuns.
Exposure to the Winooski nuns will inspire many, including students, to live life to the fullest, and devote part of their time to bettering the lives of others. The preconceived notions of the personas of nuns will fly out the window within just a few moments of first introductions. Some, like Kate, feel that encounters with the Sisters help within their professional lives as well. “I think it helps you grow, like as a person, in a non-profit career. It helps you become more focused. For me, it has helped me go from being focused on my own work and try to prove myself as an individual, to focusing on being a contact for the greater human good and working together to accomplish things.”
Sister Pat, Sister Arlene, and Sister Germane will turn any world upside down. Even just taking five minutes to set aside preconceived notions will allow for perpetual encounters that promote change. Such as Friday mornings spent kickin’ it with the nuns.
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