For immediate release
Jeanne Jugan: a Saint for our time
Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor to be canonized
October 11, 2009
At the time of her beatification in 1982, Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor,
was hailed by Pope John Paul II as a woman of prophetic intuition whose spirituality and
apostolic message were timelier than ever. At a morning consistory on February 21, 2009, Pope
Benedict XVI announced that this humble French woman who established an international
religious family dedicated to the care of the needy elderly will officially become a saint of the
Roman Catholic Church on October 11, 2009. With the population of older persons growing at
an exponential rate, Jeanne’s work and her message are even more relevant today than they were
when John Paul II beatified her over a quarter century ago. As a patroness of the elderly, Jeanne
Jugan is truly a saint for our time.
The Little Sisters of the Poor trace their roots to very humble beginnings in Brittany, France. On
a cold winter’s night in 1839 in the Breton village of Saint Servan, Jeanne Jugan recognized the
presence of Jesus Christ in the person of an elderly, blind and infirm woman who suddenly found
herself alone and in need. Jeanne carried her home and placed her in her own bed. In the days
and weeks that followed, more old women arrived at her doorstep. Jeanne was joined by a small
group of young women who were willing to help with the care of her elderly guests. The
Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor was thus born from a single, hidden act of
hospitality. One hundred seventy years later, over 2,700 Little Sisters of the Poor care for more
than 13,000 needy elderly persons in 202 family-like homes around the world. Thirty-two of
those homes are located in North America.
Much has changed since 1839, but for the Little Sisters the essential has remained the same—to
provide the needy elderly with a home where they may experience love and happiness as their
earthly journey nears its completion. As the Little Sisters rejoice at the long awaited news of
their foundress’ canonization, they marvel at her prophetic intuition and the relevance of her
message. Well in advance of her time, Jeanne Jugan sought to foster sharing and solidarity
between persons, communities and generations. She understood the inner needs and aspirations
of the aged, especially their desire to be respected, esteemed and loved, their longing to feel
useful and their fear of loneliness and dependence. Despite extraordinary advances in society,
older persons today experience the same desires and fears. Jeanne’s vision is all the more timely
in the face of the threats posed by today’s culture of death—the marginalization of the weak and
vulnerable, euthanasia and assisted suicide. The Little Sisters believe that in Saint Jeanne Jugan,
the elderly will have a faithful friend and intercessor.
Sister Margaret Regina, provincial superior of the Little Sisters’ Brooklyn province, had the
privilege of attending her foundress’ beatification in 1982. For her, the canonization “is an inner
joy that overflows not only into the lives of us, her daughters, but also into the lives of our
elderly Residents and their families, our associates, staff, volunteers, benefactors and friends.
Now her message of unselfish love will be heard in all the corners of the world!” Sister Margaret
explained: “This is a message about the Fatherhood of God, and how we should care for one
another. To do this, she said that we need to take Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a model in our
everyday life. For St. Jeanne Jugan, all that really mattered was that God was glorified in all that
she accomplished. She was only his humble instrument. For me, this is the sure way that leads to
the Kingdom of Love.”
On Saturday Sister Margaret Regina, who resides in Queens Village, NY, celebrated the
canonization news with the novices of her community, who had just returned from a period of
apostolic experience in various homes around the country. Many of them had not even been born
when their foundress was beatified, but this did not detract from their obvious joy in claiming her
as their hero and role model. Sister Maria Lourdes, a second-year novice preparing for her
profession of vows, speaks on behalf of her companions: “The canonization of Jeanne Jugan
gives to the world a new hero in love and service. As a young person and a novice, the
canonization fills me with a greater enthusiasm and desire to follow in Jeanne Jugan’s footsteps
in the total gift of self to God and the service of the aged poor.” Sister Maria Lourdes sums up
the desire of all the Little Sisters as they look forward to the great event on October 11: “May the
canonization of Jeanne Jugan reaffirm in the hearts of young women the call of God to reach out
in love to the elderly poor!”
The Little Sisters of the Poor serve the needy elderly of our area at St. Joseph’s Residence,
Enfield, CT. For more information on Jeanne Jugan and upcoming canonization celebrations,
contact:
Sister Mary Bernard
St. Joseph’s Residence
1365 Enfield Street
Enfield, CT 06089-4925
Ph: (860) 741-0791
email: enmothersuperior@littlesistersofthepoor.org