Saint Mother Théodore Guérin (Clark)
Encyclopedia
Saint Mother Théodore Guérin is a public artwork by American
artist Teresa Clark, located at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. This statue serves as a memorial to Saint Mother Théodore Guérin and was a gift from the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
.
nun
’s habit
. A rosary
hands from her waist and she stares straight ahead. Her proper left arm is pulled to her chest holding the cross that hangs from her neck. Her proper right arm is outstretched in front of her with her hand open as if reaching out to hold someones hand. Her proper right foot steps out in front her. The statue stands on top of a limestone base which stands on a granite base and is surrounded by flowers.
, to Terre Haute, Indiana
, in the spring of 2005 and shortly thereafter she was commissioned to create the statue of the Saint. As a non-religious person she was moved by the story of the Saint Mother and in 2006 she was baptized Catholic at the age of 50.
The sculpture was carved by master stone carver Nick Fairplay from Oberlin, Ohio
.
The plans to create the sculpture had been in the works since 2004. It took Clark over a year to carve the piece, finalizing it in early 2006. After approval from the National Shrine, a fiberglass molding
was produced and the sculpture was sent to Fairplay's studio.
The limestone came from Victor Oolitic Stone Company in Oolitic, Indiana
, and was delayed in being delivered to Fairplay's studio.
was held at the Crypt Church at the Shrine, Archbishop Pietro Sambi
blessed the sculpture. A reception was held at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
.
The sculpture was described as a "wonderful addition" to the garden by Reverend Monsignor Walter R. Rossi.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
artist Teresa Clark, located at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This statue serves as a memorial to Saint Mother Théodore Guérin and was a gift from the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
.
Description
The statue is a full body portrait of the Saint standing at 6 feet tall. It is made of Indiana limestone and shows her wearing a traditional CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
’s habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
. A rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
hands from her waist and she stares straight ahead. Her proper left arm is pulled to her chest holding the cross that hangs from her neck. Her proper right arm is outstretched in front of her with her hand open as if reaching out to hold someones hand. Her proper right foot steps out in front her. The statue stands on top of a limestone base which stands on a granite base and is surrounded by flowers.
Artist
Teresa Clark moved from Fort Wayne, IndianaFort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, in the spring of 2005 and shortly thereafter she was commissioned to create the statue of the Saint. As a non-religious person she was moved by the story of the Saint Mother and in 2006 she was baptized Catholic at the age of 50.
The sculpture was carved by master stone carver Nick Fairplay from Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
.
Information
Clark credits the commission as clearing problems up in her life, hence her conversion to Catholicism. Creating the sculpture from clay Clark described the process of creation in relation to the Saint: "Using your hands to create someone, an individual who was a woman of faith—one kind of feeds the other. I almost feel her presence at times when I’m working."The plans to create the sculpture had been in the works since 2004. It took Clark over a year to carve the piece, finalizing it in early 2006. After approval from the National Shrine, a fiberglass molding
Fiberglass molding
Fiberglass molding is a process in which fiberglass reinforced resin plastics are formed into useful shapes.-Mold Making:The fiberglass mold process begins with an object known as the plug or buck. This is an exact representation of the object to be made, and can be made from a variety of different...
was produced and the sculpture was sent to Fairplay's studio.
The limestone came from Victor Oolitic Stone Company in Oolitic, Indiana
Oolitic, Indiana
Oolitic is a town in Indian Creek and Shawswick townships, Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,184 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Oolitic is located at ....
, and was delayed in being delivered to Fairplay's studio.
Acquisition
The sculpture was dedicated on May 10, 2008, at the National Shrine in Mary's Garden. More than 450 people attended the ceremony which included Clark. After a liturgyLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
was held at the Crypt Church at the Shrine, Archbishop Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi
Pietro Sambi was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. At the time of his death, he was the Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States....
blessed the sculpture. A reception was held at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center was established to house a Roman Catholic museum and think tank in Washington, D.C. The concept for the center began at a meeting between Pope John Paul II and then-Bishop Adam Maida in 1988. The building is set on 12 acres adjacent to The Catholic University...
.
The sculpture was described as a "wonderful addition" to the garden by Reverend Monsignor Walter R. Rossi.