Little Sisters of the Poor
“Be kind, especially with the infirm. Love them well ... Oh yes! Be kind. It is a great grace God is giving you. In serving the aged, it is He Himself whom you are serving.” Blessed Jeanne Jugan
Preserving the original charism of Jeanne Jugan by giving happiness to the elderly remains of utmost importance to the Little Sisters today. Our service to the elderly is sealed by a fourth vow of HOSPITALITY. This hospitality extends beyond physical care. It also embraces the social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of the human person to make the later years of our Residents' lives a meaningful time of fulfillment.
Respect for the Uniqueness of Each Resident
We are committed to promoting the dignity of life of each and every one of our Residents. We make an effort to know each Resident as a unique individual as well as his or her family, social background, and culture.
Fostering a Home away from Home
It takes more than attractive décor to make a home. We work to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere and a balance between stability in daily routines (for these give the elderly a sense of security) and flexibility in allowing each individual to make personal choices and to act spontaneously. We strive to foster a setting that quickly feels like home to new Residents and addresses their needs for comfort, safety and security.
Providing Meaningful Activities
Just as in the time of Jeanne Jugan, we give our Residents the opportunity to participate in recreational and social activities and to take responsibility for certain daily tasks (no matter how small). This helps to foster a feeling of belonging. In addition, these activities help Residents by delaying mental and physical decline and responding to their desire to remain useful and involved.
Encouraging Pastoral Care
Pastoral services respond to a real need of the elderly who largely regard religion as important in their lives. We assist the elderly to live old age as a time of peace and to assume the sufferings of old age from the perspective of their personal faith. We welcome Residents of all religions, and respect their desires to practice their own faith.
Accompanying the Dying
We continue our tradition of assuring a constant presence to those who have entered the dying process. We use the collaboration of physicians and other specialities to make them as comfortable as possible while remaining with them and their families both day and night. Accompanying a Resident on his or her final journey is the greatest expression of our mission of hospitality and the most sacred aspect of our work.
Tradition of Begging
Jeanne always thanked her benefactors by praying for them, and this was an expression of truly heartfelt gratitude. She thanked God at the same time as thanking her benefactors. “This is why God always blessed me,” she was to confide many years later, “because I was always thankful to Providence.”
This tradition of relying on the charity of those in the community has been maintained by our Congregation. Like Jeanne Jugan, we consider our benefactors as sharers in our mission. With gratitude we continue Jeanne's practice of praying for the needs confided to us by those who help us and encouraging our eldely Residents to join us in praying for all our friends, volunteers and benefactors.
Today’s “collecting” Little Sisters are often known by their “begging van.” They go daily to the markets and places of business seeking food and commodities to offset operating expenses. They also appeal in Catholic parishes as a way to build friendships and support for day to day expenses.
With care and medical costs rising and government funds dwindling, the demand of financial support is great today. We must raise a significant percentage of annual operating costs. We often live from donation to donation and rejoice in the generosity and love that flow in support of our work.
Local Home of the Little Sisters in Delaware
I grew up in an area of Wilmington known as "The Flats." We lived across the street from the Little Sisters of the Poor Home (St. Joseph's Home) that you see in the picture below. They were wonderful days (the 1950's and very early 60's). Times were simpler then with corner stores, bakeries and fish markets and corner drug stores with soda fountains, 5 & 10 cent stores, and several dairies. Neighbors all got along for the most part and we 'kids' soon bonded into old friends and all played together usually at the park on Ferris Street where there were swings and later, a sliding board. I wouldn't go back into that area now in an armored car or tank. Amazing what 'time' can do.
I had the honor of being the altar boy for the Little Sisters since I lived so close by and could be there in short order. I served Mass every morning there. After Mass, the Sisters would always have something for me to eat and drink in a little private dining room. Sometimes the Priest would have some coffee and a donut with me. They were generally Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales from Salesianum Hight School or the Provincial's Residence which is also in Wilmington. One day, I remember it vividly now at 65, an Irish Priest came to celebrate Mass. His name should ring a bell with the older folks - it was Father Patrick Peyton, the "Rosary Priest." He coined the phrase, "The Family that prays together, stays together." He also had a radio program called "Family Theater" where the most famous stars of the time would be one the air in a variety of programs. I'll never forget him - gentle, smiling and a saint. Speaking of a saint, Father is on his way to Sainthood. Pray that God will bless us with this wonderful Priest as another of His Saints.
Click the picture of the former home below and be taken to the present home of the Little Sisters which moved to Newark. They are an awesome order of Sisters who exemplify the very charisms of their Foundress in all they say and do. While you're at it, why not send them a check once in a while for the work they do is all volunteer. The care they provide the aged is second to none. Mother Chantel leads the Sisters as Superior of the community.
Those of us originally from the Flats will remember Albert, the boy who used to push our family grocery carts home for us and carry them in. He worked outside the old A & P Market on Union Street across from Hoy's 5 & 10 store. He is the Senior Resident at the Little Sisters. I remember him well.
Canonization of Blessed Jeanne Jugan is October 11, 2009
Original Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Wilmington, Delaware. The home was called "Saint Joseph's Home."
Charles Dickens, a contemporary of Jeanne Jugan, said of her: “There is in this woman something so calm, and so holy, that in seeing her I know myself to be in the presence of a superior being. Her words went straight to my heart, so that my eyes, I know not how, filled with tears.”
Blessed Jeanne Jugan
Born to a poor family in Brittany, France, she learned the meaning of hard work at an early age. She also learned the beauty of the faith passed on to her by her widowed mother. At the age of 16, Jeanne became a kitchen maid for a family whose mistress often took the young girl on visits to the sick and poor. Over time Jeanne developed a special love for the aged, particularly poor widows.
She did hospital work and domestic service for years. At age 47 several other women moved into Jeanne’s home, where they became an informal prayer community and eventually elected Jeanne as superior. They supported themselves through domestic work; in their free time they catechized children and aided the poor as best they could. Over time the community came to be known as the congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Their members, who begged for the needs of the elderly in their care, took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and hospitality.
A benefactor provided the growing community of women with a convent; other houses were soon established. Members begged for the needs of the elderly in their care and ate only leftovers. Sister Mary of the Cross, as she was known, proved to be a talented organizer and fundraiser, but jealousies and squabbles forced her to step down as superior. Her spiritual director instructed her to “remain in a hidden life behind the walls of the motherhouse.” Her last 27 years were spent in obscurity. She quietly supervised the manual work of the postulants, who were unaware of the real story behind the humble, elderly nun who loved and encouraged them. She lived to see Pope Leo XIII approve the constitutions for the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1879. But Jeanne Jugan was not officially recognized as the founder of the congregation until 14 years after her death.
Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1982. Quote:
Charles Dickens, a contemporary of Jeanne Jugan, said of her: “There is in this woman something so calm, and so holy, that in seeing her I know myself to be in the presence of a superior being. Her words went straight to my heart, so that my eyes, I know not how, filled with tears.”