“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints” ~Wilfred Peterson
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It was my pleasure to spend four wonderful days at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. It is the site of the Mother House for the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. But first and foremost is was the destination of
Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in 1840.
The Cabin
Saint Mary -of-the-Woods
Replica
Let's here from Mother Theodore as she shares her words on her arrival at The Woods in 1840. You can only imagine.
"I cannot tell you what passed within me during the next half hour. I do not know myself, but I was so deeply moved that I could not utter a word. We continued to advance into the thick woods till suddenly Father Buteaux stopped the carriage and said, 'Come down, Sisters, we have arrived.' What was our astonishment to find ourselves still in the midst of the forest, no village, not even a house in sight...[L]ed down into the ravine, whence we beheld through the trees on the other side a frame house with a stable and some sheds. 'There,' he said, 'is the house where the postulants have a room, and where you will lodge until your house is ready.'"
" We had agreed aong ourselve that our first visit would be made to the Blessed Sacrament, and that we soule not speak to anyone before having satiasfied this longing of our hearts. The priest preceded us and we followed in silence to the Church. The Church!!"
The church was a cabin, just as the pictures of the replica show above. This was where Father said Mass and had only a cot in the corner where he could sleep. Rude church but miracles still happened here!
Today the Sisters and all who visit can enter and worship in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. You can walk the holy grounds. You can enter into the silence. The trees are the friends of reflection. The buildings honor the wisdom of Saint Mother Theodore and all the Sisters of Providence since. I find every time I visit I have been touched again by the love, energy, compassion and willingness to give of those who follow the charism of Saint Mother Theodore and the Sisters of Providence.
~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!
Cathy
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