Carolers on horseback

Some Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College seniors, staff and faculty spread Christmas cheer.

Some Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) staff, faculty and Mari Hulman George Equine Studies seniors traveled around Saint Mary-of-the-Woods singing Christmas carols on horseback this week for the Equine Holiday Ride at the Woods.

The top three photos above show SMWC President Dottie King and two students spreading Christmas cheer outside LeFer Hall on Tuesday. In the two bottom photos the children and staff at Woods Day Care/Pre-School enjoy the Christmas carols.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Feast Day

Today’s feast of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin also marks the 5th anniversary of her
canonization at the Vatican on Oct. 3, 2006.

I can still feel the pride and excitement of seeing her banner-portrait uncovered and that familiar painting shared with the entire world. Our saint, now everyone’s saint — the first saint in Indiana and only the 8th saint in the United States!

In my mind’s eye, I saw hundreds and hundreds of school children in the United States, in China and in Taiwan, being taught through the years about this remarkable pioneer woman
from France, who, with her five sister-companions — Sister St. Vincent Ferrer Gagé, Sister Basilide Sénéschal, Sister Olympiade Boyer, Sister Mary Xavier Lerée and Sister Mary Liguori Tiercin — established a Congregation and a school at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Providence continues today as does the school, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

People of all faith traditions and in all cultural and economic circumstances can find strength in her enduring message: “Perfect abandonment of ourselves in all things for the future requires great courage, but we ought to aspire to it.” Happy feast!

Happy birthday, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin!

How does one celebrate a birthday in heaven, especially one’s 213th?

I suspect there would be a gathering of some kind, with her founding sister companions — Basilide, Mary Xaxier, Olympiade, St. Liguori, and St. Vincent Ferrer — leading all the heavenly well-wishers and close behind the 2,174 deceased Sisters of Providence, who carried on her mission for more than 171 years.

We, her modern-day daughters and sons, ask her special intercession on her birthday, Oct. 2 — and Oct. 3, her feast day!

Chorus to spread joy at the Fest

You're invited to an Oct. 22 concert during the Fest.

Do you love good music that makes you want to tap your toes, clap your hands and sing along?

Then get ready to enjoy the Vigo County Extension Homemakers Chorus, who will headline an Oct. 22 evening concert during the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Fest.

The Fest, scheduled Oct. 21-23, 2011, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., is a weekend celebration of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, the eighth U.S. and first Indiana saint. “Living the Legacy Now” is the Fest’s theme. The Sisters of Providence invite you to join us for workshops and presentations that highlight spirituality, art, music, sustainability and more.

As a part of the Fest, the Vigo County Extension Homemakers Chorus will be in concert at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in Cecilian Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on the same grounds as the Fest activities. Fest participants attend the concert free of charge. The public is also invited to attend and a free-will offering at the door is welcome.

The chorus, directed by Jackie Reeves, began in 1936. The group is 30-plus members strong and serves as a musical outlet for women who love to sing.

“The purpose of the chorus is to spread joy!” Reeves said.

If you’ve heard the Vigo County Extension Homemakers Chorus in person, let us know what you think. We’re looking forward to an exciting evening of great music!

To learn more about the Fest, contact Sister Jan Craven at jcraven@spsmw.org or 812-535-2925. Read more about the Fest, register online and check out the schedule of events.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Fest Oct. 21-23

Take a beautiful fall weekend and mix it with programs highlighting spirituality, music and art and you have the makings for this year’s Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Fest Oct. 21-23 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

The Fest’s theme is “Living the Legacy Now!” and the weekend will focus on the life of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Saint Mother Theodore came to the Indiana wilderness from France in 1840 and quickly grew to love the land. She felt a personal call to sustainability and being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us which is exemplified in how the Sisters of Providence live today.

Mother Theodore welcomed people of all faith traditions and there is something for everyone at this uplifting event. See our Schedule of Events for workshops and the activities being offered.
The registration fee for the three-day weekend is $50 per person, all meals included. A special Saturday only rate of $25 (two meals included) is also offered.

A special highlight of this year’s Fest is a 6:30 p.m. concert, featuring the Vigo County Extension Homemakers Chorus. The concert will be conducted in Cecilian Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Fest participants will be able to attend the concert free of charge.

The Vigo County Extension Homemakers Chorus began in 1936. Its Director Jackie Reeves notes, “Our chorus serves as a musical outlet for those who love to sing, providing opportunities to sing throughout the community. As far as I’m concerned, our purpose is to spread joy!”

For more information about the Fest, contact Sister Jan Craven at 812-535-2925 or jcraven@spsmw.org. More details can also be found at www.SistersofProvidence.org.

General Superior summons foundress to support new SMWC president

Sister Denise Wilkinson, general superior of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, offered the following comments during the announcement of a new president for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Dr. Dottie King. Dr. King had served as interim president for about eight months.

Sister Denise's comments:

"The General Council of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods unanimously approved the Board of Trustees' recommendation to appoint Dr. Dottie King as the next president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Dr. King has consistently demonstrated professional excellence in her various roles at the College - faculty member, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the interim President of the Woods.

As important and influential as her competency is, we Sisters of Providence find in her two other qualities essential to the president of this College - first, a deep, authentic and lived faith in God that shapes who Dr. King is and how she relates to others; secondly, a seemingly intuitive and deeply real understanding of the Providence God and of the life and legacy of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Mother Theodore founded the College and has left her indelible mark upon it and all of us associated with the College.

Let me use a collection of her words, Dr. King, to express the confidence the Sisters of Providence have in you, and the hope for success and happiness we wish for you as your life as president of her College unfolds.

We have witnessed in your interactions with others the living out of advice Mother Theodore gave to a sister just named superior of a local convent: 'The talent of a good Superior is ... to require of each one only what she can give.' May you continue to experience the gifts of wisdom this requires!

The office of president brings blessings and trials. Through it all may you continue to rely on the presence of God in your life, may you continue to be a woman of prayer.

Mother Theodore affirms what you already know, Dr. King. 'What strength the soul draws from prayer. In the midst of a storm, how sweet is the calm one finds in the heart of Jesus.'

And she reminds you, as she reminds the Sisters of Providence, 'Our hope is the Providence of God, which has protected us until the present, and which will provide, somehow, for our future needs.'

The Sisters of Providence warmly welcome you as President of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Dr. King. We promise you our support and our prayer.

And - on those days when you feel as Mother Theodore did when she wrote, 'I have already exceeded the amount of work my head can bear!' - be certain to call on her, mindful of these words of hers: 'No one loves you as your old Mother Theodore does.'

May all the blessings of Providence be yours, Dr. King! Please accept this small sign of Mother Theodore's presence to keep with you."