Diocese of Gary

Twenty years after Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was declared a saint, visitors can still come face-to-face with tangible pieces of her extraordinary story.

Her remains rest in a handmade walnut casket made by an employee with wood from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, inside a shrine dedicated to Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

Nearby, a portion of her finger bones – recognized by the Catholic Church as a first-class relic – is publicly displayed alongside the official decree from Rome declaring her a saint.

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods celebrated the 20th anniversary of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s canonization on Sunday, Oct. 11, with a pilgrimage, special eucharistic liturgy and picnic. 

During the eucharistic liturgy, additional first-class relics were given to representatives of each diocese in Indiana, including the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (the Very Rev. Fred Easton), The Diocese of Evansville (Mary Gen Blittschau), the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (the Very Rev. Francis Chukwuma), The Diocese of Gary (Sister Evelyn Ovalles, SP), and the Diocese of Lafayette (Marcia Murphy).

“The 20th anniversary allowed us to remember Saint Mother Theodore as a woman whose faith, courage and trust in Providence continues to inspire,” Sisters of Providence General Superior Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp said. “Her relics and personal belongings provide a tangible connection to her life and invite visitors to encounter her story in a deeply personal way.”

For Catholics, relics provide a physical connection to saints and serve as reminders of their lives of faith and their continued place within the communion on saints. The Church distinguishes three classes of relics. First-class relics are portions of a saint’s body, such as a bone, hair or blood. Second-class relics are objects personally owned, worn or used by the saint. Third-class relics are objects that have been touched to a first- or second-class relic.

The Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin offers visitors an opportunity to explore not only her relics, but also the personal belongings and places that tell the story of a woman who left France, traveled to the Indiana frontier and established a community that continues its mission to this day.

As the Sisters of Providence continue to celebrate this momentous anniversary, these relics offer visitors an especially meaningful connection to a woman whose life was marked by courage, prayer and an unwavering trust in Providence.

Inside the shrine, visitors can see her writing desk, chaplet, prayer book, shoes and other items she brought with her from France when she journeyed with her five sister companions to the United States in 1840.

The exhibits chronicle her remarkable journey to the Indiana wilderness, where she established the Sisters of Providence and founded schools that helped shape Catholic education despite facing an unfamiliar landscape, limited resources and significant hardships. Her journey ultimately led to the founding of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-f-the-Woods.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on October 15, 2006, formally recognizing her holiness and establishing her veneration throughout the universal Church. 

Her relics and preserved artifacts at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods offer visitors an opportunity to reflect not only on how Saint Mother Theodore lived, but also on the enduring impact of her faith.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s journey through the sainthood process culminated in her canonization, making her the eighth saint in America and the first in the state of Indiana.

Twenty years later, her relics remain a physical reminder of the woman behind the title “saint” – a woman who left France for an unfamiliar land, faced extraordinary challenges and built a lasting legacy grounded in faith, education and Providence.

“The anniversary celebration of the canonization of Mother Theodore was a profound experience for me and for so many others,” Sister Jeanne said. “To walk the paths where Mother Theodore trod with so many pilgrims was a graced moment. And the energy in the church of the celebration of Eucharist was palpable.

“Then to see so many people making connections with one another at lunch was heartwarming. And one of the most touching moments of the day was to be in Mother Theodore’s shrine and to watch pilgrims, young and old, come through and just be with Mother Theodore before they left campus. Providence was with us from beginning to end!”

Caption: Representatives from the five Dioceses in Indiana preparing to receive their first-class relic. (Photo provided)