Midwest Mary

Apparently, a span of 20 years is a drop in the bucket in a “mature” woman’s life. Although it feels much more recently, it was 20 years ago that I attended the canonization of Saint Mother Theordore Guerin in Vatican Square.

The declaration of sainthood was one of the most memorable days of my life. After all, how often do we have the opportunity to see a pope name someone you feel a spritual connection with to be officially recognized as a saint?

Hundreds of alumni traveled with as many Sisters of Providence. Festivities were held before and after the canonization. And let me tell you, those very excited Sisters knew how to celebrate their founder’s sainthood.

Pope Benedict XVI performed the canonization on October 15, 2006. He named this saint Theodora Guerin, but he also allowed the name most Americans know her as, Mother Theodore, to be used, as well. Saint Theodora/Mother Theodore’s feast day is officially October 3.

In the 1800s Mother Theodore was asked by an American priest to leave her home country of France to found a women’s religious community in the American Midwest. The Indiana and Illinois wilderness needed Catholic schools for children and a group of sisters to run those schools.

Mother Theodore agreed to take on the mission. Due to a serious illness when she first entered the order, she could not eat solid food and periodically was ill, but she believed that if God wanted her to do this, she would have the strength to succeed.

In 1840, Mother Theodore led a group of five other women into the deep forest of Indiana. In addition to needing to learn a new language, her mission was faced with poverty, illness, separation from loved ones, difficult superiors, and outright malice from political sources. Throughout it all, she persevered. She refused to surrender her divine assignment.

These women were left in the middle of nowhere with few resources, yet within a handful of years, they raised funds and supervised the building of a motherhouse for a growing religious congregation known as the Sisters of Providence, elementary schools throughout Indiana and Illinois, orphanages, and free pharmacies. They also founded one of the first schools for the higher education of women now known as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, (where I received my master’s degree in Pastoral Theology).

When you are in need, consider asking St. Mother Theodore to pray with you. I find her prayers to be powerful. And if you go to the Sisters of Providence/St. Mary-of-the-Woods 1200 acre campus, you will feel Mother Theodore’s presence there while walking down the same paths she did.

Remember, to be canonized, at least two thoroughly investigated miracles must be attributed to the candidate’s intercession after their death. One miracle must take place before beatification when the candidate receives the title of “blessed.” The other must occur after that. The healing or resolution must instantly, completely, and permanently eliminate the illness or condition.

In celebration of the anniversary of Mother Theodore’s sainthood, the Sisters of Providence invite people of all faith traditions to join them on October 11, 2026. For more information on this celebration, call 812-535-2952 or email msolis-deal@spsmw.org.

For more information on Saint Mother Theodore, you can read my book, Seven Principles of Sainthood Following St. Mother Theodora Guerin. Sadly, my children’s book, St. Theodora and Her Promise to God is out of print. However, the St. Theodora and Her Promise to God coloring book is available through the Sisters of Providence.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2026