Sister Jan Craven new coordinator for Saint Mother Theodore Guerin shrine

Sister Jan Craven, a member of the Sisters of Providence for nearly 32 years and a member of the Youngstown Ursulines for 10 years, has been named coordinator of the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana.

Sister Jan is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. She is a graduate of Youngstown State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She received a master’s degree in spirituality from Fordham University in New York and a master’s degree in the philosophy of religion and theology from Claremont University in California.

She has ministered as a teacher, director of religious education, pastoral associate, provincial councilor, and tribunal advocate at various locations in Indiana, Illinois and California, and also as director of postulancy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Jan will work closely with the staff at Providence Center to arrange visits and tours of Saint Mother Theodore’s shrine. Her responsibilities will focus on sharing Saint Mother Theodore’s story with various audiences, as well as answering requests for information which come from around the world. Since Saint Mother Theodore’s canonization in October, 2006, the Sisters of Providence have had inquiries, prayer requests or visitors from all 50 states and more than 60 foreign nations.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to help make Saint Mary-of-the-Woods better known to as many people as possible. It is the dream of our Congregation’s leadership and many others that the scope of this ministry be expanded to work more intimately with the present and evolving mission of Providence Center as well as White Violet Center for Eco-Justice in developing programs that would showcase our foundress’ spirit and witness value for today,” Sister Jan said.

The temporary home for the Shrine is now located in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on the grounds of the Motherhouse. Plans for a new Shrine are well under way. For more information about embracing the Providence legacy, and learning more about the Shrine, contact Sister Jan at 812-535-2925, or e-mail jcraven@spsmw.org.