A news note from the director of the shrine

As the triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church met the Rector of the Episcopal Church in Chicago, Rev. Gina Volpe wrote the joyful news to Sister Denise Wilkinson, letting us know that the addition of Saint Mother Theodore to the Episcopal calendar of saints has been approved by both the House of Bishops and House of Deputies.

Saint Mother Theodore is now in the three-year provisional stage in preparation for publication into the next volume of saints. They have also officially approved her day of celebration to be Oct. 3.

Mother Theodore was on a list that also included Katherine Drexel, Kateri Tekakwitha, Therese of Lisieux, Dorothy Day, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others. This list being mostly women as it was previously determined that the calendar was incredibly heavy on the male side. So the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music was quite intentional on adding saints who are women as well as saints with local ties.

During the mass of Rev. Gina’s Installation as Rector on June 11, Mother Theodore was part of the saints during the Eucharistic Prayer. There were smiles on many faces as Bishop Lee said her name as there were many with ties to the Sisters of Providence present at the installation.