Sisters of Providence foundress 'a woman for our time'.
By Sue Loughlin
In 1840, Mother Theodore Guerin left her home in France to establish a religious order in the west-central Indiana wilderness.
She faced poor health, rugged living conditions and lack of resources, but she drew strength from her faith and her desire to serve God.
While she died in 1856, her legacy remains.
She founded the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, which today ministers in 20 states, the District of Columbia, Taiwan and China. The sisters' work is highly visible in Vigo County and includes many programs that serve the poor.
Mother Guerin founded an academy for girls, which today is St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, the oldest Catholic liberal arts college for women in the United States.
During her short 16 years here, Mother Guerin established many other schools, as well as orphanages and free pharmacies. She and others in the congregation served the sick and poor.
"She showed an indomitable spirit of perseverance in the face of almost insurmountable odds," said Sister Marie Kevin Tighe, who draws inspiration from Mother Guerin and is closely involved in an important cause - to make Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin a saint.
That day may not be far away.
As early as next year, Mother Guerin could be canonized by the pope. People who are canonized - declared to be saints - are venerated and honored by the entire Catholic Church.
Mother Guerin would be Indiana's first saint, Sister Tighe said. Sisters of Providence have worked on the cause since 1909, although efforts escalated in the 1990s.
A critical step forward occurred in 1998, when Pope John Paul II granted her the title of "Blessed," which means she led a life of heroic virtue and one miracle could be attributed to her intercession.
Proof of two miracles is required, and church officials are now in the process of confirming a second miracle. The second miracle has been recognized by a five-person medical commission in Rome.
Mother Guerin's cause now will be presented to a commission of theologians this fall. The final step is a review by cardinals before the information is presented to Pope Benedict XVI.
"I think it's a great honor for the Wabash Valley to have someone who lived and served here to be honored by the Catholic Church as a woman who was holy," yet human, said Sister Ann Margaret O'Hara, general superior of the congregation.
Mother Guerin was truly "a woman for our time," whose priority was not only the education of women, but also the improvement of the role of women in all parts of society, Sister O'Hara said.
Her sainthood would be an honor and an inspiration, said Sister Tighe. "It will encourage [Sisters of Providence] to be more like her," she said.
In her eyes, Mother Guerin already is a saint and remains a strong influence in her life.
"For me, she is not dead. She is so much alive in us and what we do. We are keeping her spirit alive," Sister Tighe said.
A shrine honoring Mother Guerin is in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary-of-the Woods.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis |
| Mother Theodore: The official portrait of Mother Theodore Guerin that hands in the parlor in Providence Hall. |
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MOTHER THEODORE GUERIN FAST FACTS
Born: Oct. 2, 1798, in the village of Etables-sur-Mer in Brittany, France.
Birth name: Anne-Therese Guerin.
Entered Sisters of Providence at Ruille-sur-Loir, France: Aug. 18, 1823.
Religious name: Sister St. Theodore.
Professed perpetual vows: Sept. 5, 1831.
Ministries in France: Taught at Preuilly-sur-Claise and served as superior of schools in Rennes and Soulaines, where she also ministered among the sick and poor.
Missionary voyage from France to New York: July 27, 1840, to Sept. 4, 1840.
Date of arrival at St. Mary-of-the-Woods: Oct. 22, 1840.
Opened Academy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods: July 4, 1841.
Other establishments opened by Mother Theodore: Schools at Jasper, St. Mary-of-the-Woods Village, Vincennes, Montgomery, Madison, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Evansville, North Madison, Lanesville and Columbus, all in Indiana, and St. Francisville in Illinois; also two orphanages, one for girls, the other for boys in Vincennes. In addition, Mother Theodore opened pharmacies where free remedies were dispensed to the poor at Vincennes and St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She also oversaw the construction of a new motherhouse for the Sisters of Providence and several additions to the academy, both at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Date of death: May 14, 1856.
A Celtic cross stands as a memorial to her. Etched in the base are the words: "I sleep, but my heart watches over this house which I have built."
Place of burial: Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Opening of the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Mother Theodore: Sept. 8, 1909.
Received title "Venerable" from the Roman Catholic Church: July 22, 1992, in recognition of a virtuous life lived to a heroic degree.
Received title "Blessed" from the Roman Catholic Church: Oct. 25, 1998, during a beatification ceremony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Feast Day for Blessed Mother Theodore: Oct. 3.
Shrine honoring Blessed Mother Theodore: Near the entrance of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Visitors are welcome.
Source: Sisters of Providence