St Theodore Guerin, also known as Mother Theodora or Anne-Thérèse Guérin, was the foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
She was born on October 2 1798 in Etables-sur-Mer, Brittany, France, and died on May 14 1856 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA.
We celebrate her feast day on October 3 every year in the Catholic Church.
St Theodore Guerin is the patron saint of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
| St Theodore Guerin Biography | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of Birth | October 2 1798 |
| Place of Birth | Etables-sur-Mer, Brittany, France |
| Profession | Catholic Nun |
| Place of Work | USA |
| Date of Death | May 14 1856 |
| Place of Death | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA |
| Feast Day | October 3 |
| Beatification | By Pope John Paul II on October 25 1998 in Vatican City |
| Canonization | By Pope Benedict XVI on October 15 2006 in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City |
| Patron Saint of | Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana, USA |
St Theodore Guerin Life History
St Theodore Guerin was the daughter of Laurent and Isabelle Guérin. She joined the Sisters of Providence at Ruillé-sur-Loir, France on August 18 1823 then took the name Sister Saint Theodore, and on September 5 1831, she made her final vows.
After teaching for some time in Rennes and Soulaines, France, St Theodore Guerin was sent to the diocese of Vincennes, Indiana, USA on October 22 1840, together with five other sisters namely;
- Sister Olympiade Boyer
- Sister Saint Vincent Ferrer Gagé
- Sister Basilide Sénéschal
- Sister Mary Xavier Lerée
- Sister Mary Liguori Tiercin
In Indiana, USA, on July 4 1841, they established the Academy of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods at Terre Haute, Indiana. This became the first Catholic women’s liberal arts college in the United States.
St Theodore Guerin also established schools at;
- Jasper, Indiana
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village, Indiana
- Vincennes, Indiana
- Montgomery, Indiana
- Madison, Indiana
- Terre Haute, Indiana
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Evansville, Indiana
- North Madison, Indiana
- Lanesville, Indiana
- Columbus, Indiana
- Saint Francisville, Illinois
Theodore Guerin also founded an orphanage for girls and one for boys in Vincennes, Indiana. She opened pharmacies where medicines were dispensed free to the poor at Vincennes and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
She oversaw the construction of a motherhouse for the Sisters of Providence and several additions to the Academy.
After she died on May 14 1856 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA she was buried at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana.
She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 25 1998 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15 2006 in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City
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