St. Théodore Guérin – Saints of America Biography
Saint Théodore Guérin (1798–1856) was a French-born Catholic religious sister who became a pioneer of faith and education in the United States. Raised in France amid upheaval following the French Revolution, she entered the Sisters of Providence and was known for her humility, wisdom, and steadfast trust in God. In 1840, despite fragile health and the dangers of frontier travel, she journeyed to Indiana to establish a new mission. Once there, she founded the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and opened schools in rural areas, laying the foundation for Catholic education across the Midwest. She is remembered as a devoted advocate for the poor and a model of unwavering faith in the face of adversity.
Born: October 2, 1798
Died: May 14, 1856
Patron: Indiana
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion has created Catholic Saints of America as a resource for catechesis on the Causes for Sainthood in the United States.