Joined a Convent

Began as a Teacher

While on travel from the United States in France, Bishop Hailandière, the bishop of the vast Diocese of Vincennes in state of Indiana, asked the Sisters of Providence of Ruillé-sur-Loir to send a group of sisters to establish a ministry in diocese. Sister Theodore was asked to lead a small missionary band of Sisters of Providence to the United States of America, to establish a motherhouse, to open schools and to share the love of God with pioneers in the Diocese of Vincennes in the State of Indiana. Sister Théodore later remarked that a sentence from the Rule of the congregation convinced her to answer the call to immigrate to the United States: “The Congregation being obliged to work with zeal for the sanctification of souls, the sisters will be disposed to go to whatsoever part of the world obedience calls them.”

Her Start at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana

Equipped with little more than her steadfast desire to serve God, Sister Théodore and her five companion Sisters of Providence arrived at the site of their mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, on the evening of October 22, 1840. She immediately hastened along a muddy, narrow path to the tiny log cabin that served as the chapel. There, they knelt in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for their safe journey and to ask for God’s blessings for the new mission.

Opened an Academy for Women

In July 1841, less than a year after they arrived in Indiana, and despite their meager resources, Mother Théodore and the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods opened Saint Mary’s Academy for young women. The academy was the forerunner of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Started Many Schools and Orphanages in Indiana and Illinois

From the time of her arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in July 1840 to January 1849, Mother Théodore worked with Catholic parishes to establish parish schools at several sites within the Diocese of Vincennes. She personally directed the establishment of Saint Joseph School (1842) in Jasper; Saint Anne’s Academy (1844) in Madison; Saint Augustine’s (1846) in Fort Wayne; and Saint Vincent’s Academy (1849) in Terre Haute, Indiana; as well as a school in Saint Francisville, Illinois. After her return to the United States from a fundraising trip to France, Mother Théodore and the Sisters of Providence established six other schools in Indiana: two in Evansville, Saint Joseph’s Academy (1853) and Assumption (1853); Saint Patrick’s (1853) in North Madison; Saint Mary’s (1853) at Fort Wayne; Saint Mary’s (1854) at Lanesville; and Saint Bartholomew (1855) at Columbus.  In addition, Mother Théodore and the Sisters of Providence helped establish two orphanages in Vincennes and free pharmacies at Vincennes and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Built Convent

Mother Théodore proved to be a skilled businesswoman and leader and a beloved general superior and spiritual leader of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She arranged to purchase a local farmhouse belonging to the Thralls family to serve as the congregation’s first convent at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Mother Théodore oversaw the construction of a new Providence convent, which was formally dedicated on August 7, 1854.

Her Death

Mother Théodore suffered from poor health for most of her adult life and she died on May 14, 1856 at the motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, at fifty-seven. Mother Théodore died sixteen years after she arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. During those fleeting years, she touched a countless number of lives—and continues to do so today.