Archdiocesan history, providence, inspire Mother Olga
With members of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth beside her, Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart kneels in prayer during a Dec. 14, 2025, Mass at St. John Paul II Church in Sellersburg. Born in Iraq, Mother Olga founded the religious community in 2011 in the Archdiocese of Boston. Two of its members are beginning ministry at St. John Paul II Parish. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)
By Sean Gallagher
SELLERSBURG—Two members of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth religious order began their life and ministry at St. John Paul II Parish in Sellersburg at the start of the new year.
The community, founded in 2011 in the Archdiocese of Boston, came to the Church in central and southern Indiana with the approval of Archbishop Charles C. Thompson through the mysterious workings of God’s providence during the past three years. (Related story: Mysterious work of providence brings women religious to Sellersburg parish)
Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart is the foundress of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth. A native of Iraq, she lived through four wars there before making her way to the U.S. Many Catholics in central and southern Indiana and others across the country first came to know this diminutive religious when she walked onto the stage in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as a keynote speaker at the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024.
Mother Olga recently spoke with The Criterion about learning of the history of the ministry of women religious in the archdiocese, including the witness of
St. Theodora Guérin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Indiana’s first saint, and her hopes of how her religious community will follow in their footsteps.
Mother Olga also reflected on the welcome she and her sisters have received at St. John Paul II and the working of God’s providence to bring them to southern Indiana.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q. Your religious community is new, founded only in 2011. As you discerned whether or not to have members from your community serve at St. John Paul II Parish, you learned about the history of the archdiocese and the communities of women religious who have served in Sellersburg going back to 1870: Franciscan sisters from Oldenburg, Benedictine sisters and members of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Why was it important for you to do this?
A. “In 2011, I wanted to study the history of religious communities in the United States, especially the communities which were founded here in this country. For me, it was very important to build on a foundation that has contributed to the Church in America. We have been very blessed by many pioneers, religious women who built Catholic schools and health care institutes.
“After meeting with Archbishop Thompson as part of my ongoing discernment, I began to read the history of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
“I made a pilgrimage to visit the tomb of St. Mother Theodore, a co-patron saint of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. I also visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Providence at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence.
“After studying such rich history of religious life in this area, I feel we are very blessed and humbled to follow in the footsteps of so many holy, faith-filled religious women who gave their lives for the service of the Church and the people of Indiana.
“We are grateful to God for this opportunity to serve, to continue to build on the foundation that began in the 1800s. In a way, it is so affirming that the work of the sisters who have gone before us and the work that our sisters will do all belongs to God, who is the author of our calling. Because it is not possible for any human to build such a strong foundation and make it continue to grow if it was not the work of God and all by his grace.”
Q. Like Mother Theodore Guérin, you came from a country far away before starting a religious community here in America. What was it like for you to visit her shrine in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods?
A. “It is hard to describe in words how I felt drawn to make a pilgrimage and drive three hours each way [to and from Sellersburg] to visit St. Mother Theodore’s tomb. In general, I feel drawn to lean on the experiences and the prayers of foundresses, especially those who founded religious communities in foreign countries outside their land.
“I was very eager to know about Mother Theodore, who came to this country and to this part of United States to follow God’s calling to serve wherever he led her. When I visited her tomb, I had a profound experience being there by myself, praying through her intercession for our new beginning in Sellersburg.”
Q. While at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, you also visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Providence on the grounds of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence. How was that meaningful for you?
A. “I believe that was a special gift that Mother Theodore gave me during that pilgrimage, because she knows how much I will need to depend on God’s providence as I begin this new convent in a new part of our country for us. I felt so much peace as I surrendered the decision of coming to Indiana by entrusting everything into the hands of Our Lady of Providence. That’s why I have placed a big picture of her in our new convent here in Indiana.”
Q: Please describe the experience that you and your sisters had when you were first welcomed to St. John Paul II Parish on Nov. 30 during a Mass on the First Sunday of Advent?
A. “I was moved to tears when Father Tom Clegg invited me up to the steps of the sanctuary to receive the keys of the convent. I was overwhelmed by the goodness of God and his Church.
“For me, the key was not only a key to open the door of our new convent, but a key to the future and the work that God is calling us to do. I received that key with a profound sense of responsibility and a way of saying ‘yes’ to open this path and this door for the Lord to show us the way and to lead us to where he wants us to be and how he wants us to serve.”
“One of the things that I experienced after the welcoming Mass was the desire that the people of Sellersburg and [the New Albany] Deanery have for religious sisters to be in their midst and to serve their families. In a way, I felt the people’s reaction at the welcoming Mass was an affirmation that we are meant to be here.”
Q. What are your hopes for the ministry of your sisters at St. John Paul II and the life of faith that they’ll share with the parishioners there?
A. “My prayer and hope is that our ministry will glorify the Lord and highlight the beauty of our mother Church.
“By the grace of God, I hope that our faithful, humble and joyful presence will strengthen the faith of our people here and, please God, bring those who may have left the Church and heal the wounds of those who may have been hurt.
“We serve in the Church, with the Church and for the Church. The Church is a mother. And like any mother, she likes to bring her children home. So, we serve in the heart of such a mother who loves all her children, near and far.”
Q. Many people in Sellersburg worked hard and gave generously to turn an old rectory there into a convent where your sisters can live. How do you see a connection between their work and generosity and the ministry that your sisters will carry out in the parish?
A. “In Psalm 127:1 we read that ‘if the Lord does not build, in vain labor the builders.’
“This newly renovated convent came to exist by the generosity of so many people, near and far, and the hard work and dedication of so many workers. Most of all, it happened through the many prayers of the local faithful and the friends of our community beyond Indiana.
“Just as the physical existence of this convent came by the grace of God through the hands and hearts of so many people, I believe it will be the same for our mission and ministry here. We cannot do it without the grace of God and the blessing of his hands upon us, as well as the prayers of the faithful.”
(For more information on the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, visit dmnazareth.org.) †
