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‘Facing challenges with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’
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January 13, 2021‘One final resting place of Mother Theodore in the Sisters of Providence Convent Cemetery.
This past year was difficult for most. But the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, will be offering a Zoom presentation that might help!
All are invited to join the “Facing challenges with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin” virtual event, which will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., CST, on Thursday, Feb. 4.
A panel of Sisters of Providence, along with Providence Associates, will share some of the challenges Saint Mother Theodore Guerin faced in her lifetime and correlate those challenges to those many of us face in the present. After the panel presentation, participants will be invited into small breakout groups for personal sharing and reflection.
Sister Denise Wilkinson, SP, will be one of the presenters. She intends to address how Saint Mother Theodore experienced the feeling of being misunderstood, during her early years as a Sister of Providence in France.
“When I first read some of these lesser known – or lesser referenced incidents – I was surprised,” Sister Denise said. “I knew she had troubles with the Bishop, but hadn’t really thought about her experiencing what we often experience in our lives: misunderstandings she experienced with people whom she loved very much and who loved her very much.
“Mother Theodore continued to love these people, and they continued to love her. Loving another comes with a cost, and Mother Theodore knew the cost of loving others.”
Sister Denise added these stories “made Mother Theodore even more real to me.”
“She was even more accessible as a confidante and friend,” Sister Denise continued. “I imagine all of us have felt misunderstood and/or hurt by another. The choice is ours as to what we do about it. You either keep working out the relationship or you turn your back to another. It seems to me that Mother Theodore did the hard work of loving another.
“I imagine those of us involved with this type of experience will be able to relate to this struggle she faced, and hope to imitate her ongoing struggle to love others as she loved herself.”
Other presenters will include Sister Jan Craven, Sister Jessica Vitente and Providence Associate Helen Flavin.
To register, visit FacingChallenges.SistersofProvidence.org, and a link will be sent to those who register.
About the Sisters of Providence
The Sisters of Providence, a Congregation of nearly 250 women religious, with more than 280 Providence Associates, collaborate with others to create a more just and hope-filled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy. The Sisters of Providence have their motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, located just northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind., which is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 17 states, the District of Columbia and Asia, through works of love, mercy and justice. More information about the Sisters of Providence and their ministries may be found at SistersofProvidence.org.
