Providence University

Providence University (Taichung, Taiwan) is a Catholic co-educational institution.

History

Providence University was founded by an American congregation, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Indiana, United States. [ [http://www.pu.edu.tw/english/ Providence University Homepage] ] In 1921 Mother Marie Gratia Luking (1885-1964) and five other Sisters of Providence founded "Hua-Mei Girls' Elementary and High Schools" in Kaifeng, Hunan Province, in Mainland China, one of the first schools for girls in China. In the spring of 1929, the school was forced to close because of the political turbulence. However, the Providence Sisters, enthusiastic with regard to female education, endeavored to establish another school in spite of the critical situation. In 1932, by the effort of the Board of Trustees, "Ching-Yi Girls' High School" was instituted in Kaifeng. Cardinal Paul Yü Pin was the first Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and Ms. Chi-Liang Ing was the first President of the school. In 1942, Mother Gratia and the other sisters were imprisoned and did not regain their freedom until 1945. In 1948, the war between the Kuomintang Party and the Communist Party forced the sisters to retreat first to Shanghai and later to Taiwan.

References