The Sons of Divine Providence (Figli della Divina Provvidenza), or Orionine Fathers, was founded in 1893 by Saint Luigi Orione (1872-1940) in Turin, Italy. Over a century later, this Roman Catholic organization dedicated to helping the poor is still active in 23 nations throughout the world.
Saint Luigi Orione's motto, and that of the SDP, is: "Fare del bene a tutti, fare del bene sempre, del male mai a nessuno." ("Do good to all, help everyone, harm no one.")
Currently, the Sons of Divine Providence number 1023: 3 bishops, 728 priests, 82 brothers, 8 monks. In formation there are 201 clerics and 19 brothers of temporary vows, 45 novices. The SDP have centers in 296 localities in 28 nations. In the United States, the headquarters of the congregation is at the National Shrine of the Madonna, located on a historic hill in East Boston, Massachusetts, known as Orient Heights.
Famous quotes containing the words sons of, sons, divine and/or providence:
“The sons of Judah have to choose that God may again choose them.... The divine principle of our race is action, choice, resolved memory.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)
“With two sons born eighteen months apart, I operated mainly on automatic pilot through the ceaseless activity of their early childhood. I remember opening the refrigerator late one night and finding a roll of aluminum foil next to a pair of small red tennies. Certain that I was responsible for the refrigerated shoes, I quickly closed the door and ran upstairs to make sure I had put the babies in their cribs instead of the linen closet.”
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)
“Like a prophet, you are possibly teaching us about the workings of the divine mind, but in the process you are ruining the human mind, dear friend.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“What is Providence for you may be Nemesis for me.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)