Saint Germaine Cousin

Biography

Saint Theodore Guerin, also known as Mother Theodore, was born on October 2, 1798, in Etables-sur-Mer, Brittany, France. She was the daughter of Laurent and Isabelle Guérin. From a young age, she demonstrated a deep sense of faith and a desire to serve God. At the age of 25, Anne-Thérèse Guérin joined the Sisters of Providence at Ruillé-sur-Loir, France, on August 18, 1823. She took the name Sister Saint Theodore and made her final vows on September 5, 1831. Sister Theodore had a passion for education and dedicated herself to the mission of teaching. She taught in various towns in France, including Rennes and Soulaines, where she shared her knowledge and faith with her students. However, her calling extended beyond the borders of France. In 1840, Sister Theodore and five other sisters, Sister Olympiade Boyer, Sister Saint Vincent Ferrer Gagé, Sister Basilide Sénéschal, Sister Mary Xavier Lerée, and Sister Mary Liguori Tiercin, were sent to the diocese of Vincennes, Indiana, USA. Upon their arrival on October 22, 1840, these brave women laid the foundation for the establishment of the Academy of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. On July 4, 1841, they officially inaugurated the academy in Terre Haute, Indiana. This historic college became the first Catholic women's liberal-arts college in the United States. Under Sister Theodore's guidance, the Sisters of Providence expanded their educational mission. She established schools in various cities in Indiana, such as Jasper, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village, Vincennes, Montgomery, Madison, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Evansville, North Madison, Lanesville, and Columbus. In addition to these schools, she also founded an orphanage for girls and one for boys in Vincennes, Indiana. Sister Theodore's dedication to serving the sick and the needy was evident in her efforts to provide free medicines to the poor. She opened pharmacies in Vincennes and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, where medicines were dispensed without charge. Alongside her educational and charitable endeavors, Sister Theodore oversaw the construction of a motherhouse for the Sisters of Providence. She facilitated several additions to the Academy of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, ensuring the institution could accommodate the growing number of students. Saint Theodore Guerin passed away on May 14, 1856, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, at the age of 57. She died of natural causes and was buried at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. In recognition of her remarkable life and contributions, Saint Theodore Guerin was beatified on October 25, 1998, by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Later, on October 15, 2006, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Theodore Guerin holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Lafayette, Indiana, as she is the patron saint of the diocese. Her unwavering faith, commitment to education, and dedication to helping the underprivileged continue to inspire many to this day.