saint mary-of-the-woods college

The College opened the new Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center in December 2014 and it is a beautiful addition to the campus. It fits in nicely with the other 100 year-old buildings taking elements from their color and design, yet making a new, bright recreation center space for the students and community.

The campus of the Sisters of Providence and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College is unparalleled in beauty and peace. The historical significance is that here, in the middle of nowhere in 1840, 5 French nuns were given a task to build faith and learning, and their legacy remains to this day. Walk the grounds, visit the Shell Chapel, the main Church, the Sisters' cemetery, the stables and alpacas. In the church, visit the shrine of America's newest saint, St. Mother Theodore Guerin. Sit, relax, think, pray, meditate, or just allow your senses to be caressed. "The Woods" can inspire you.

Look through the photos here. Go to the websites www.smwc.edu and www.spsmw.org for more photos and information. The campus is beautiful. It's been the scene of many senior pictures, engagement and wedding photos as well as flora and fauna. On one campus there is a grotto fashioned after Lourdes, a chapel decorated with shells, alpacas, the old Mother house, an ecologically sound farm and orchard, a peaceful cemetery, rowdy soccer and softball fields (and gym in December 2014), and residence & dining halls filled with scholars. A visit to "The Woods" is ideal for history buffs, ecologists, scholars, folks who like nature, those choosing to visit Catholic shrines, high school juniors looking for a stellar education . . . this campus has something for everyone and should not be missed.

We think of heaven as a beautiful place where everyone is kind, and treats you as a beloved family member. That’s St. Mary of the Woods. We called to arrange for a guided tour of church side, as opposed to the college side. It’s magically beautiful! Especially the sanctuary. But the people are the real treasure. We felt so at home. Will, a very learned man, gave us an orientation and related the amazing story of the sister who started the college. She is now a saint. Sister Francis took us around the sanctuary and grounds. We took time with her to sit and gaze at the grotto in the garden. One in our group had attended St. Mary many decades ago and she looked peaceful and happy remembering her days there. Our tour guide was Rita. She found a place in our hearts. We found her delightful in everyway and she seemed to genuinely enjoy our company. We even got to have lunch with the sisters. Oh, and check out the cute alpacas and the interesting gift shop. St. Mary is opening their new shrine and museum for Saint Sister Theodore, the amazing woman who started the church. It will be open starting October 25. Just one more reason for you to make the pilgrimage. You’ll be so glad you did.

Beautiful serene campus...well worth visiting. You can enjoy gorgeous architecture, visit the stables or just enjoy walking, biking or running on the campus! Visit the Shrine of Indiana's first saint--Mother Theodore Guerin and don't miss the Grotto--patterned after the one in Lourdes France!