Happy Feast of St. Jeanne Jugan
On a cold winter’s night 183 years ago, Jeanne Jugan brought a poor, blind and semi-paralyzed elderly woman home and cared for her. This act committed Jeanne forever, and the Little Sisters of the Poor were born.
On Tuesday, August 30, we celebrated the Feast of St. Jeanne Jugan, giving thanks and gathering together as a family.
A beautiful Mass in Honor of St. Jeanne Jugan was offered in our Chapel. Residents, Little Sisters, Association Jeanne Jugan members and staff prayed together for the first time in 2 ½ years. It was such a joy to be together!
After Mass a special meal was served and Sr. Margaret Mary, our Administrator Maggie Mokrzycka, and Director of Nursing Erin Power-Ledford presented gifts to all of our Residents.
At 2 p.m. a Bingo party was held in the auditorium. Residents, Little Sisters and staff partnered up to play this all-time favorite. While not everyone had a winning card, we all did enjoy root beer floats and sweets. After bingo a Jeanne Jugan trivia game, yielded many winners! Each bingo and trivia team were given tickets to cash in a table filled with prizes.
Meanwhile in France Mother Mercy is busy attending the General Chapter meeting. One of the most important moments of the General Chapter will take place on Thursday, September 8 with the election of Mother General. Please join us in praying for the success of the General Chapter during September and October. We would be most grateful!
Mother was able to attend the installation and blessing of a granite sculpture of St. Jeanne Jugan in the “Vallée des Saints,” (Valley of the Saints), a cultural and tourist site in the Brittany region of France, composed of hundreds of statues of saints who influenced the early history and faith of this region.
We are eternally grateful that Jeanne Jugan said “yes” when our Lord called her. She radiated in her life, gentleness and humility of heart, which enabled her to surrender herself, in simplicity, to the joy of hospitality. That is what our name Little Sister of the Poor denotes.
For Jeanne Jugan, the Poor defined her vocation. God had waited for her in the Poor; she had met and found him in the Poor. Her vow, and our vow of consecrated hospitality is, in the midst of the world, a witness to the mercy of the Father and the compassionate love of the Heart of Jesus.
St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us.
Happy Feast of St. Jeanne Jugan