Public invited to explore Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s connection to nature

The Sisters of Providence invite the public to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Saturday, April 6, to explore Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her connection to nature.

The free program, titled “Saint Mother Theodore Guerin: the Green Saint,” will run from 9 a.m. till noon at Providence Spirituality and Conference Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 2006, traveled in 1840 from her homeland in France as a missionary to found of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence and to open schools throughout Indiana, including Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

“The Sisters of Providence are devoted to the care of all God’s creation, which is so critical in the world today. We are also intent on sharing with others the legacy of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and the positive example she sets, even for those living today. It is only natural to us that we should offer a workshop integrating the two,” said Sister Paula Damiano, director of programming for the Sisters’ Providence Spirituality and Conference Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sisters of Providence Ruth Johnson and Jan Craven will lead the program. Sister Ruth is a staff member at White Violet Center for Eco-justice and has done much prayer, work and study on Saint Mother Theodore and her work with all creation. Sister Jan Craven, in addition to being coordinator of the Office of the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, has done advanced study in spirituality, including Providence spirituality.

The program is geared toward adults of all ages and all faiths and anyone interested in the environment or in spirituality, Sister Paula said.

“I hope that people will come to understand that there really is such an intimate connection between spirituality and care of Earth,” she said.

Interested participants may choose to stay into the afternoon for a second workshop, “Building Rain Gardens” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. This $15-program will teach the basics of building rain gardens, a practical way to care for the environment by protecting waterways.

For more information, visit www.SistersofProvidence.org. To learn more or to register for Saint Mother Theodore Guerin: the Green Saint, contact Sister Paula Damiano at 812-535-2926 or pdamiano@spsmw.org.