Saint Mother Theodore Guerin
An unshakeable trust in God. It set Saint Mother Theodore Guerin apart and makes her a model for us in our daily living. Get to know our brave and inspiring foundress better through these stories.
Letter: Jan 18. 1856
"When we are cold is not the time to keep away from the fire." It's a fitting statement for the weather here lately, but what does it really mean?
Providence prayers for the journey of Advent
Advent means coming (Latin adventus; Greek parousia): the coming of Emmanuel (God-with-us) into our lives, the coming of Providence into the universe. This start of the Christian liturgical year invites us to prepare for the coming of light, liberation, and love into the universe. It challenges us to stay awake to Providence in our midst and to witness to this relationship.
Historical museum exhibit features sisters, college
In celebration of 175 years, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) have created an exhibit which is currently on display at the Vigo County Historical Museum. The exhibit features various artifacts from the…
Letter: Jan. 13, 1853
"Be careful not to give way to your temper, which makes you unsupportable. You would be a thousand times happier in resisting it," wrote Mother Theodore on Jan. 13, 1853.
All Saints Day
As a kid, saints always fascinated me. I liked hearing their stories from my Sister of Providence teachers and reading their stories on my own. The martyrs, in my young mind, were the best! I really liked those stories and reveled in the fantasy that someday I, too, would die for my faith, just as they did — burned at the stake or fed to the lions. Well, forget that! Reality soon set in and with it a desire to stay as far away from that kind of suffering (make that any kind of suffering) as possible!
Sharing stories, building relationships
An important part of the orientation toward becoming Providence Associates is the sharing of stories.
Several spoke of seeking something more in their lives, of seeking a deeper spirituality.
One young woman saw this as a way to keep her accountable to community service. Another was seeking intentionality.
Several were friends of Providence Associates who had heard their tales of life-giving experience as a Providence Associate and were looking for the same.
ONE of several, but Indiana’s first
Mother Theodore is one of several U.S. saints, but Indiana's very first!
2 days and 2 ways to read Journals and Letters
We are only two days away from the Grand Opening Celebration of the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore! Find out the two ways you can read "Journals and Letters of Mother Theodore."
Three countries of heritage: France, Taiwan and U.S.
On day three prior to the Oct. 25 public opening of the shrine, I’d like to focus on just three countries that have played a significant role in the 174 years since our foundation in 1840: France, United States and China. From France to America to China, the call to mission is basic to our history.
Saint Mother Theodore’s welcome: a foundation day reflection
There was no Wabash Avenue bridge. The crossing of the Wabash was made by ferry—probably a flat-bottomed open raft. Arrival on the other side was followed by a carriage ride through the river bottoms on and at times wholly submerged plank road—a soggy, wet, carriage ride during which the horses were at times literally swimming, with water up to their necks. The carriage tipped sideways twice, its wheels caught on tree roots. Later, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin would write, “When one has nothing more to lose, the heart is inaccessible to fear.”
