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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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152 Sisters Study "Summa Theologica" | Image | 1949 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | News article reporting on the first enrolled class of the Summer School of Theology. |
45 Nuns Get Certificates | Image | 1960-08-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A news article reporting on the 1960 graduation ceremonies held by the Summer School of Sacred Theol… |
61 Nuns Win Degrees | Image | 1954-08-06 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A news article with an image reporting on the 1954 graduation ceremonies of the Summer School of Sac… |
A Day with Cardinal Ciappi | Image | 1977-08-19 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | When Cardinal Ciappi came to Providence College he also received an invitation for a reception from… |
A Day with Cardinal Ciappi | Image | 1977-08-19 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | When Cardinal Ciappi came to Providence College he also received an invitation for a reception from… |
A letter to Sister Mariposa | Digital Document | 1949-07 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A personal appreciation of the Summer School of Sacred Theology in correspondence form. |
A Personal Appreciation of the Summa | Digital Document | 1950 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A personal statement expressing the author's appreciation to be able to study the Summa Theolog… |
And the Darkness did not Comprehend | Digital Document | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A collection of poems imploring the salvation of the world from then current world affairs. | |
Are Ye Yet Without Understanding? | Digital Document | 1949-07-10 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | An argument for religious education and the importance of placing God above all else. |
Came the Light | Digital Document | 1949-04-01 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A discussion on continuing religious education for teaching sisters in correspondence form. |
Candidates for Master's Degree, 1953 | Digital Document | 1953 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of students who having completed the course requirements for the Master's program were q… |
Candidates for Master's Degree, 1954 | Digital Document | 1955 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | |
Candidates for Master's Degree, 1955 | Digital Document | 1955 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of students who having completed the course requirements for the Master's program were q… |
Candidates for Master's Degree, 1956 | Digital Document | 1956 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of students who having completed the course requirements for the Master's program were q… |
Candidates for Master's Degree, 1957 | Digital Document | 1957 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A list of students who having completed the course requirements for the Master's program were q… |
Change the World | Digital Document | 1950 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | An exhortation that the individual person is able help change the world by allowing God to work thro… |
Files from Western Union in re Providence College-American Community Suit | Digital Document | 1948 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A light-hearted account of the travel adventures of Sister Mystica on her way to Providence to atten… |
First Sister Theologians | Image | 1950-08-17 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | A news article reporting on the Papal Blessing given upon the Summer School of Sacred Theology and i… |
Graduation articles | Image | 1966-08-01 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | Three short articles reporting on the graduation exercises of 1966. |
Introduction to the Study of Theology | Digital Document | 1948 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | An introduction to the study of theology in outline form. |
Invitation for Fr. Reginold Peterson to attend a reception honoring Cardinal Ciappi in Woonsocket, RI | Image | 1977-08-01 | Providence College Summer School of Sacred Theology | When Cardinal Ciappi came to Providence College he also received an invitation for a reception from… |
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 |