Improvements Abound: Structures Undergoing Facelifts

The year was 1846. Two wings were added to Saint Mary’s Academy and a new school was being built in Terre Haute. About the financial status, Mother Theodore wrote in her journal, “The improvements at St. Mary’s and the house in Terre Haute have almost ruined us.”

179 years later the Sisters of Providence are still making improvements at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods!

Columbarium Update

We are thrilled to announce that plans are in the works to add another set of columbaria to the existing two, erected in 2019 in Providence Community Cemetery at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

The footer is already placed, awaiting the arrival of the two additional columbaria in the spring of 2026. The current columbaria have a few spots left for reservation. The discount price of $2,500 for niches in rows F-G and H will remain in effect until the new ones are installed and operational.
For detailed information about cremains interment at the Woods visit
SistersofProvidence.org/CommunityCemetery.

Several other improvements have also been completed recently, with the expert advice, counsel and know-how of current project manager, Chuck Seprodi. He shared with me the ins and outs of some of our major projects.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception

The most obvious of these improvements was in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Totally renovated in 1986, that paint job was beyond ready for a “facelift.” Chuck explained that this was a major challenge because of the heights involved, up to 50-feet in elevation. Specialized equipment called an articulating lift was initially used. Alas! It damaged the terrazzo floor about three weeks into the project and had to be removed. Enter the entourage of scaffolding workers.

By this time, the extreme highest parts of the Church remained to be painted: the vaulted sanctuary ceiling and surrounding areas. It seemed to take longer to erect and dismantle the scaffolding than to do the actual painting.

Upgrades to Elevators

The Lourdes Hall elevator, used primarily by the sisters in health care to get to appointments, church and activities and to transport food carts to health care in Mother Theodore and in Lourdes halls, got a total upgrade. Thanks to generous donors most of the mechanical parts were replaced and it was brought up to code for modern safety standards. “It will be like new once it is completed,” Chuck said.

The second elevator due for an upgrade was the west elevator in Providence Hall. “Blueprints dating back to 1927 indicate it may have been the first elevator installed on campus,” Chuck observed. “It, too, will need most of its mechanics restored in addition to replacing the entire cab car.”

Saint Anne Shell Chapel

The renovation of Saint Anne Shell Chapel included replacing the exterior stone around the base and adding new drainage. Any structures above ground were heavily weathered and needed to be stabilized. A new door will eventually be installed and additional work done to the interior.

It goes without saying that none of these improvements could have happened without the continued and generous support of our benefactors. Again, Mother Theodore says it best: “What a sweet providence it is to find friends thus willing to assist us. Accept the profound gratitude of my poor little Community, and be pleased also to aid us with your prayers.”

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Originally published in the fall 2025 issue of HOPE magazine.