October 24, 2014

Sisters of Providence plan year of events for 175th anniversary of order’s and college’s founding

Providence Sisters Dawn Tomaszewski, left, Mary Beth Klingel, Lisa Stallings (partially obscured) and general superior Sister Denise Wilkinson process with the remains of St. Mother Theodore Guérin on Oct. 3 from the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to the saint’s new permanent shrine connected to the church by a hallway. The open house for the new shrine is from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 25. (Submitted photo)

Providence Sisters Dawn Tomaszewski, left, Mary Beth Klingel, Lisa Stallings (partially obscured) and general superior Sister Denise Wilkinson process with the remains of St. Mother Theodore Guérin on Oct. 3 from the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to the saint’s new permanent shrine connected to the church by a hallway. The open house for the new shrine is from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 25. (Submitted photo)

On Oct. 22, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, both in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, began a celebration of 175 years since their founding.

On Oct. 22, 1840, St. Mother Theodore Guérin and five sister companions arrived in the wilderness of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, establishing a Catholic women’s religious congregation. Less than one year later, Mother Theodore Guérin established what is now known as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

The Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College joined together to begin the celebration on Foundation Day, Oct. 22, with a yearlong theme of “Rooted for Tomorrow.”

The anniversary year began with the celebration of Mass in the congregation’s Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Several other events will take place throughout the year, including:

  • Oct. 25, 2014: The official opening of the Shrine of St. Mother Theodore Guérin. Tours and light refreshments will be available to all from 1 to 4 p.m., ending with a prayer service at 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 3, 2014: Official ribbon cutting for the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center
  • Feb. 21, 2015: Rooted for Tomorrow: Wine and Design art event
  • April 12-18, 2015: Rooted for Tomorrow: Planting New Seeds, week promoting local community volunteering
  • Sept. 12- Nov. 2015: Works of Sisters of Providence artists to be featured in an exhibit at Swope Art Museum, 25 S. 7th St., in Terre Haute
  • Oct. 3, 2015: Feast Day of St. Mother Theodore Guérin, Mass at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception
  • Oct. 16-18, 2015: St. Mother Theodore Fest, providing opportunities for prayer and reflection, learning about and sharing the legacy of Saint Mother Theodore
  • Oct. 22, 2015: Foundation Day Mass at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception

In addition, the year’s events will also include an exhibit during the spring of 2015 at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis featuring artifacts from the Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
 

For more information, log on to www.SistersofProvidence.org or www.SMWC.edu. †

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