Little Sisters of the Poor
MAGALANG BRANCH
A home for homeless aged
ABOUT THEM...
The Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor was founded by St. Jeanne Jugan Cancale in Brittany in 1839. In 1847, a house was established in Tours, and communities of sisters began to spread across France.
In 1868, the Little Sisters of the Poor came to the United States, where they operate twenty-nine homes to care for the elderly poor.
Today the Little Sisters of the Poor serve over 13,000 of the elderly poor in 31 countries around the world (including homes in the United States, Turkey, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Penang, New Zealand, and Philippines ), continuing their original purpose of caring for the elderly.
On May 24, 2023 the sisters opened another establishment in the provincial area of Magalang Pampanga.
The inauguration mass was presided over by the Archbishop
Florentino Lavarias.
Called by God The Founder
St Mary of the Cross (in the world: Jeanne Jugan) was born at Cancale, in Brittany, France, on 25 October 1792 in the turbulent period of the French Revolution. She was the sixth of eight children, four of whom died in infancy. Their fisherman father was lost at sea when Jeanne was only four. From her mother and the place of her birth, Jeanne inherited a lively, deep faith and a profound determination that could overcome any difficulty. The political climate and the family's financial plight prevented Jeanne from going to school. She learned to read and write from some ladies of the Third Order of St John Eudes who were numerous in the region.
In Jeanne's world children began working at an early age. She would pray her Rosary while tending the herd, on the high cliffs above the Bay of Cancale. The beautiful view uplifted her soul. At the age of 15 she left home and went to work in a wealthy family not far from Cancale. With her new employer, she went to the help of the needy.
In 1801 Napoleon Bonaparte restored religious freedom and a true spiritual awakening ensued. Numerous missions were preached and it was in this fervent atmosphere that the future Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor heard the Lord's call.
When a young man asked for her hand in marriage she told him that God wanted her for himself, and was keeping her for a work as yet unknown. And as an immediate response she divided her clothes into two piles, leaving the prettiest to her sisters. She then left for Saint-Servan where for six years she worked as an assistant nurse. She enrolled in the Third Order of St John of Eudes. From that time her one desire was to "be as humble as Jesus".
Health problems obliged Jeanne to leave the hospital. She was taken in by a friend in the Third Order, Miss Lecoq, whom she would serve for 12 years until her death in 1835. In 1839, Jeanne was 47 years old and shared an apartment with two friends: Fanchon, 71, and Virginie Trédaniel, a 17-year-old orphan. In Saint-Servan at that time the economic situation was disastrous; 4,000 out of population of 10,000 were reduced to begging.
One winter evening in 1839, she came across a poor and blind old lady. Jeanne did not hesitate to give the lady her own bed. This was the initial spark that kindled a great blaze of charity. From that time, Jeanne was not to be deterred. In 1841 she rented a large room in which she welcomed 12 elderly people. In 1842, without money, she purchased a dilapidated convent where she soon provided 40 elderly persons with accommodation.
Encouraged by a St John of God brother, she begged for the poor in the streets and founded her institution on abandonment to Providence. In 1845 she won the Montyon Prize, awarded each year "to a poor French man or woman for outstandingly meritorious activity". She founded homes in 1846 in Rennes and in Dinan, in 1847 in Tours, and in 1850 in Angers. The Congregation spread throughout Europe, America, and Africa and shortly after her death, to Asia and Oceania.
It would seem that this fruitfulness was the result of a total and radical dispossession. In 1843, Jeanne had been re-elected Superior. Contrary to all expectations and solely on his own authority, Fr Le Pailleur, named as Superior instead Marie Jamet, who was 21 years old. In his action, Jeanne discerned God's will and supported the work, encouraging the younger sisters by her example.
In 1852, the Bishop of Rennes officially acknowledged the Congregation and appointed Fr Le Pailleur Superior General. His first act was to call Jeanne Jugan back definitively to the Motherhouse for a retirement that was to last 27 long years.
The younger sisters, ever increasing in number with the expansion of the Congregation, did not even realize that she was their Foundress. Jeanne, living in their midst, with her serenity and wisdom, transmitted a constant spirit of praise. "Love God very much; he is so good. Let us entrust ourselves to him".
She died peacefully on 29 August 1879. Her Congregation then numbered 2,400 Little Sisters in 177 homes on three continents. John Paul II beatified her on 3 October 1982.
Jugan died in 1879 at the age of 86, and was buried in the graveyard of the General Motherhouse at Saint-Pern. She was beatified in Rome by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 1982, and canonized on October 11, 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI, who said, "In the Beatitudes, Jeanne Jugan found the source of the spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence, which illuminated her whole life."
Today, pilgrims can visit the house where she was born, the House of the Cross at Saint-Servan and the motherhouse where she lived her last 23 years at La Tour Saint Joseph in Saint-Pern.
Their MISSION and VISION
Their MISSION is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself.
Their VISION is to contribute to the Culture of Life by nurturing communities where each person is valued, the solidarity of the human family and the wisdom of age are celebrated, and the compassionate love of Christ is shared with all.
Their VALUES
REVERENCE for the sacredness of human life and for the uniqueness of
each person, especially those who are poorest and/or weakest. This is
reflected in care that is holistic and person-centered.
FAMILY SPIRIT: a spirit of joyful hospitality embracing all with open arms,
hearts and minds; fostering participation in the life of the home and rejecting
all forms of discrimination.
HUMBLE SERVICE: the desire to raise others up and to put their needs before
our own; an appreciation of simple, everyday tasks and experiences and humble
means in accomplishing our work.
COMPASSION: empathy for sharing the weaknesses and sufferings of others;
eagerness to relieve pain in all its forms and to make the elderly happy.
STEWARDSHIP: the recognition that life and all other goods are gifts from God
and should therefore be used responsibly for the good of all; trust in God’s Providence
and the generosity of others to provide for our needs; just compensation for our
collaborators; a spirit of gratitude and sharing.
Begging as a Tradition
To provide for the needs of the elderly, Saint Jeanne Jugan walked the roads of Brittany seeking alms. Knocking on doors, she asked for money and gifts in kind – whatever was needed for her poor. She was recognized by the begging basket she carried.
She believed that because God is our Father, all men and women are brothers and sisters – members of one family – and thus responsible for one another.
Jeanne sought to involve people from many walks of life in the care of the elderly, gratefully accepting whatever they could contribute in time, treasure or talent.
To an impatient benefactor who asked her why she burdened herself with all those old people, Jeanne replied, “We shall share them, Sir. You will provide for them and I will care for their needs.”
Jeanne Jugan trusted in Divine Providence. In her old age, she intervened at a decisive moment in our history to ensure that the Congregation would never accept guaranteed forms of income. To do so, she felt, would betray our trust in Providence.
To this day, we do not accept any form of permanent income. To some people this seems insane. Our survival for over 175 years is proof of the effectiveness of Jeanne’s unique form of strategic planning!
Just as Jeanne Jugan was recognized by her begging basket, today’s begging Little Sisters are known by the van in which they make their daily rounds visiting businesses and markets asking for food and other commodities to help offset our operating expenses.
On weekends they visit local parishes to ask for support. They plan mailings and organize fund raising events in favor of our homes. These Little Sisters carry on the tradition of begging so dear to Jeanne Jugan.
Jeanne always thanked her benefactors by praying for them – and she thanked God at the same time. “God has blessed me,” she said, “because I always thanked his Providence… What gratitude we owe our benefactors … What could we do for the elderly without them?”
Like Saint Jeanne Jugan, we recognize that our benefactors are indispensable partners in our mission. And like her, we pray for them everyday!
News
It gives us tremendous pride to be recognized for all of the hard work we do here at Little Sisters of the Poor (Magalang Branch). Explore some of our latest media features below. Do they inspire you to get involved? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Local Non-Profit Makes a Splash with Summer Fundraiser
From Idea to Reality: The Evolution of Little Sisters of the Poor (Magalang Branch)
Interview with Little Sisters of the Poor (Magalang Branch) Director
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