The culmination of a yearlong celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Oblate Sisters of Providence takes place Thursday and Friday, with Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving on July 1, 2004 at 6 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a reception at the St. Frances Community Center.
There will also be a banquet on July 2, 2004 at Martin’s West at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Camille O. Cosby.
The Order was officially established in 1829 and was the first successful Roman Catholic sisterhood founded by women of African descent. There are currently 100 active members working in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Buffalo, N.Y.
Rev.John H. Ricard, SSJ, Bishop of Pensacola and former Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, will be the homilist. The public is invited to attend, though seating is limited.
Tickets for the banquet are still available. For more information about the Thanksgiving Mass and the banquet please call 410-242-6593.