October 15, 2006

Mass at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

By Mary Ann Wyand

(See a photo gallery for this post)

Mass at Saint Mary of the WoodsProvidence Sister Agnes Pauline Meinert got a special birthday present this year.

St. Theodora Guérin, the foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Oct. 15, which is Sister Agnes Pauline’s 90th birthday.

It was a birthday wish—and a longtime dream—come true, Sister Agnes Pauline said after an 11 a.m. eucharistic liturgy at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse that coincided with the formal canonization Mass at the Vatican.

The motherhouse church was filled for the liturgy, which included a brief message from the Sisters of Providence on pilgrimage in Rome.

Both before and after the Mass, sisters and guests waited in line to venerate the remains of the French-born missionary sister who became the eighth U.S. saint earlier in the day.

Images and artwork of St. Theodora were on display at the Providence Center and Shrine of Our Lady of Providence, and new road signs decorated portions of U.S. 150 that have been renamed “Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Memorial Highway.”

The canonization was “icing on the cake” for Sister Agnes Pauline, who couldn’t believe that this historic and spiritual event happened on her birthday.

This weekend’s Mass was a prelude to the Canonization Liturgy of Thanksgiving on Founder’s Day, Oct. 22, which will include Providence sisters who journeyed to Rome for the ceremony.

Posted by Mary Ann Wyand at 6:07 p.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2006

 

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