New shrine planned for Valley saint

St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. (WTHI) - The Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods have announced plans for a new shrine to house the remains of their founder, St. Mother Theodore Guerin.

The remains of St. Theodore Guerin, who was declared a saint in 2006, are now kept in a casket in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Those who care for the church say they want to make sure that the saint’s resting place does not distract from other activity in the church and that traffic through the church does not distract pilgrims who come to honor St. Theodore Guerin.

The new shrine would be built beneath an existing chapel on the grounds and would also include educational displays.

“It’s about the past, but more importantly, it’s about the future,” said Sister Jan Craven. “It’s about the people who come to honor her and to remember this holy ground where she once walked and talked and lived and breathed and had a life here.”

The sisters say they have begun a capital campaign to raise $1.2 million needed to build the shrine. To learn more about the project, click here .