Mother Mary Raphael Slattery, S.P., (January 17, 1863 - September 9, 1940) was the Superior General

Superior general

A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...

 of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...

, Indiana, from 1926-1938. During her term, her business sense helped the congregation through the Great Depression

Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. In the midst of the Depression, Slattery had Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a Roman Catholic, four-year liberal arts women's college located northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana, between the Wabash River and the Illinois state line. There is also a small village of the same name located nearby...

, originally under the finances of the congregation, separately incorporated in order to protect its future.

She oversaw the founding of Providence High School in Chicago, now known as Providence-St. Mel

Providence-St. Mel

Providence St. Mel School is a private, coeducational K-12 school in East Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois. The school currently has 594 students and 50 teachers.-History:...

. Slattery also sent Sisters of Providence for the first time to minister in Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 and California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.

Slattery also promoted among her Sisters a devotion to Our Lady of Providence

Our Lady of Providence

Our Lady of Providence or Our Lady of Divine Providence is a reference to Mary in relationship with Divine Providence. Various Roman Catholic groups have a particular devotion to Our Lady of Providence....

, encouraging them to share this devotion with their students.

Born Mary Slattery in Galesburg, Illinois

Galesburg, Illinois

Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....

, Slattery entered the congregation on September 4, 1882 and was professed as a full Sister of Providence on August 15, 1885. She spent time ministering in Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...

 and at Saint Agnes Academy in Indianapolis

Indianapolis

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

. Beginning in 1902, Slattery spent 24 years as Treasurer of the congregation until she was elected Superior General in 1926.