In the early 20th century, with the rise of Catholic higher education in America, many religious orders sought to advance the higher education of their members. The Sisters of Mercy were one of these religious orders who desired to see their sisters receive college degrees. Rather than send her sisters to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., the Mother Provincial of the Sisters of Mercy, Mother Mary Matthew Doyle, arranged through Bishop William A. Hickey to have one of the Dominicans at Providence College offer college courses to the sisters at St. Xavier's during the summer. As a result, in 1926, nine Sisters of Mercy, along with two sisters of the Dominican Order, received their degrees from Providence College, the first sisters to do so. Mother Mary Matthew Doyle was also one of the first degree recipients of this unique initiative.
In the ensuing years, hundreds of nuns from dozens of religious orders attended Providence College for these classes. These classes, however, were loosely organized, but in the summer of 1948, the Dominican Fathers at Providence College formalized the program by opening the School of Sacred Theology for Sisters. This program was initiated by the Very Rev. Robert J. Slavin, then President of Providence College, and the Rev. George Q. Friel, O.P. was its first Director. The teaching staff was composed of distinguished theologians and biblical scholars of the Province of St. Joseph.
The purpose of the school, as stated in one of the early brochures, was to deepen the sister’s knowledge of the revealed truth and to enable them to instill into their students a better knowledge of things divine and human. The core curriculum centered on the Bible and the Summa Theogiae of St. Thomas. These courses were supplemented by coursework in Church History and Cannon Law. In the first summer, 110 sisters from thirty-one different motherhouses enrolled in the program.
In the ensuing years, hundreds of nuns from dozens of religious orders attended Providence College for these classes. These classes, however, were loosely organized, but in the summer of 1948, the Dominican Fathers at Providence College formalized the program by opening the School of Sacred Theology for Sisters. This program was initiated by the Very Rev. Robert J. Slavin, then President of Providence College, and the Rev. George Q. Friel, O.P. was its first Director. The teaching staff was composed of distinguished theologians and biblical scholars of the Province of St. Joseph.
The purpose of the school, as stated in one of the early brochures, was to deepen the sister’s knowledge of the revealed truth and to enable them to instill into their students a better knowledge of things divine and human. The core curriculum centered on the Bible and the Summa Theogiae of St. Thomas. These courses were supplemented by coursework in Church History and Cannon Law. In the first summer, 110 sisters from thirty-one different motherhouses enrolled in the program.
TITLE | TYPE | DATE CREATED | COLLECTION(S) | DESCRIPTION |
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Mother Mary Matthew Doyle, RSM | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Recipient of the 1st Honorary Master's Degree given by Providence College to a religious woman… |
Nun to Note 50th Jubilee | Image | 1968 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A news article reporting on the 50th Jubilee of profession by Sister Mary Martina Conley, R.S.M. |
Nuns Attend Summer | Image | 1954-07-18 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A news article discussing the 1954 session of the Summer School of Sacred Theology. |
Preparing comprehensives... | Image | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | An image with text identifying a group of sisters preparing for exams at the Summer School of Theolo… | |
Program Course, 1958 | Digital Document | 1958 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A listing of the program courses required to complete the Summer School of Sacred Theology program |
Prologue | Digital Document | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A choral reading by Mothers Celeste and Monica in appreciation of the opportunity to study the teach… | |
Providence College Exercises | Image | 1958-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | An image depicting the Very Rev. Robert J. Slavin, O.P. presenting degrees at the 1958 closing exerc… |
Providence Visitor article about his Eminence Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, O. P. | Digital Document | 1977-08-11 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Cardinal Ciappi, O.P., who served as the personal theologian to three Popes, was invited in 1977 to… |
Religious Orders in Attendance, 1953 | Digital Document | 1953 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of religious orders whose members attended the Summer School of Sacred Theology. |
Religious Orders in Attendance, 1962 | Digital Document | 1962 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of religious orders whose members attended the Summer School of Sacred Theology. |
School is 2nd Oldest | Image | 1967 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A short article discussing the Summer School of Theology and that the school is the second oldest of… |
Sister Mary Alacoque Tuite, R.S.M. | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Sister Mary Ignatius was among the first recipients to receive her Bachelor's Degree from Provi… |
Sister Mary Celestine McGann, R.S.M. | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Sister Mary Elise Macomber, R.S.M. | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Sister Mary Gabriel Slattery, R.S.M. | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Sister Mary Ignatius Hines, RSM | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Sister Mary Ignatius was among the first recipients to receive her Bachelor's Degree from Provi… |
Sister Mary James O'Hare, R.S.M | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Sister Mary Rosalie Goode, RSM | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Sister Mary Rosalie was among the first recipients to receive her Bachelor's Degree from Provid… |
Sister Mary Victorine Murphy, R.S.M. | Image | 1926-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Some Answers to the Objections of One Opposed to a School of Sacred Theology for Religious Women | Digital Document | 1949 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A rebuttal to those objecting to the further religious education in theology of religious sisters. |
Speech Given by His Eminence Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, O. P. at Providence College | Digital Document | 1977-08-04 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Cardinal Ciappi, O.P., who served as the personal theologian to three Popes, was invited in 1977 to… |
Summer School of Sacred Theology brochure image | Image | 1960~ | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | This image was used for a 1960's brochure describing and promoting the Summer School of Sacred… |
Summer School of Sacred Theology brochure image | Image | 1960~ | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | This image was used for a 1960's brochure describing and promoting the Summer School of Sacred… |
Summer School of Sacred Theology brochure image | Image | 1960~ | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | This image was used for a 1960's brochure describing and promoting the Summer School of Sacred… |
Summer School of Sacred Theology brochure image | Image | 1960~ | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | This image was used for a 1960's brochure describing and promoting the Summer School of Sacred… |