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.
Journals and Letters week 16: Welcome support
Our present benefactors mirror these early supporters of our mission — a caring woman, a priest, two prominent businessmen — all in their own way enabling the mission and moving it forward by their talents and contributions.
Journals and Letters week 15: Stuck in New Orleans
From her sickbed Mother Theodore still had to keep watch over what was going on back at the Woods. While she was away Bishop de la Hailandière had created havoc for the community, demanding that he be obeyed despite legitimate objections to his requests.
Journals and Letters week 14: Mother Theodore the fundraiser
Mother Theodore felt burnt out and ready to give up. Can't we can all relate to having someone we care about urge us when we have lost hope?
Journals and Letters week 13: Relationships
The eight pages we read from the Mother Theodore’s ‘Journals and Letters” create quite the patchwork quilt of relationships — some intriguing, some annoying, some tender, some puzzling, some of the true blue kind.
Journals and Letters week 12: Hardship and consolation
The reading picks up after the fire at Saint Mary’s destroyed the barns and granary, other provisions and all the farm equipment.
Journals and Letters week 11: Early letters part deux
Did you know that Saint Mother Theordore Guerin wrote over 5,000 letters in her lifetime?
Journals and Letters week 10: First letters, bishop issues
As she goes on, we get a feel for more of the distress coming the sisters’ way from the bishop. “So far there has been nothing but complaints about us,” she writes.
Journals and Letters week 9: The Journey’s end
Mother Theodore entered a culture entirely unknown to her; so perhaps the mission succeeded and endures because of her willingness to act, observe, learn and adapt.
Journals and Letters week 8: Indiana arrival
I tend to forget that Mother Theodore came from a rather sophisticated France with great Cathedrals, actual roads, and thriving businesses, etc.
Journals and Letters week 7: Hardship on the Ohio
As they get closer to Indiana, Mother Theodore and her companions experience some lows and highs traveling down the Ohio River.
Journals and Letters week 6: Traveling the United States
Saint Mother Theodore's detailed descriptions of her experiences become a way to meditate on and pray thanksgiving for creation.
Journals and Letters week 5: The measure of the woman
Did the woman carry a yard stick? A surveyor’s measure? A folded up paper chart that converts leagues to miles, meters to inches or feet?