This is the day the Lord has made:
Blessing of Holy Family Home Chapel, Philadelphia
Two and a half years ago our community in Philadelphia began what was described as the most aspirational feat ever attempted by our Congregation in the City of Love. The Sisters had been given an ultimatum by the Pennsylvania Health Department because Holy Family Home was no longer in compliance with updated fire safety codes — the choice was either to close down or rebuild.
With a strong commitment to the Kingsessing section of Southwest Philadelphia, and above all to the needy elderly we serve there, the Little Sisters made the decision to rebuild Holy Family Home according to a new model of care. They partnered with The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia to raise the $45 million needed for this audacious project. To date, more than $39 million has been raised. The Little Sisters broke ground on the new building in spring 2022, and the project is expected to be completed by next summer.
The new Holy Family Home will comfortably accommodate fifteen Little Sisters and fifty-five elderly Residents. Its design will enable the Sisters to introduce a new model of care to help Residents “age in place” in apartments for as long as possible before transferring to a care unit if a higher level of care is needed. This approach responds to the desire of seniors to remain as independent and active as possible as they age, and to the conviction of the Little Sisters that old age is a meaningful stage of life, not an illness.
Despite delays caused by the pandemic, much has already been achieved. The healthcare household and convent were completed and occupied in August 2023. The independent living apartments, community center and chapel have just been completed and Residents will soon move into their new apartments.
On November 21, benefactors, friends and Little Sisters from neighboring Homes joined the Holy Family community for the blessing of the Home’s newly renovated chapel. It was a gray, rainy fall day, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of all who gathered in the bright new chapel for Mass. The main celebrant was Bishop Efren V. Esmilla, one of Philadelphia’s newly ordained auxiliary bishops. Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, served as master of ceremonies; he had organized the Mass, with all the details associated with the blessing of a chapel and altar. The Schola from Sts. Peter and Paul assured the music, exquisitely singing a variety of musical genres.
Seated in the front row of the chapel for Mass were Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Angela Clark, Campaign co-chairs, whose generous gift covered all the expenses associated with the chapel renovation. Asked what had inspired them to make this generous gift, Mr. Clark replied that when they visited the Home several years ago, they had been impressed by the Little Sisters’ work. “It’s the work of Jesus himself,” he said, adding, “You could say that chapels are our thing.” The Clarks also financed the construction of a chapel in their parish.
In front of the Statue of Saint Jeanne Jugan on the right side of the chapel were several of the community’s senior Sisters, three of whom are native Philadelphians. Asked what she was thinking on this momentous day, Sr. Elizabeth quietly exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! It’s beautiful!”
Sister Bernice Marie was reflective, sharing that she was very conscious of “the duty to pray for the benefactors who have helped to make this beautiful chapel possible. Without our benefactors, we’d be unable to give the Residents what we are able to give them,” she continued. “We hope our Mother foundress is happy today.”
Asked how she felt about the Little Sisters remaining in the Kingsessing neighborhood, an economically disadvantaged area of the city, she said she feels that the Home is what makes the neighborhood holy through the prayers of the Little Sisters and Residents. “This is a good neighborhood for the Little Sisters of the Poor,” she asserted, adding, “Jeanne Jugan tells the Congregation where we should stay.”
Sitting behind Sr. Bernice and Sr. Elizabeth was Resident Paul Buzas, who will soon move into his new apartment. “Today is a day of joy,” Paul reflected. “Our journey is culminating in the blessing of this chapel, from where many blessings will flow.” Paul is involved in many of the Home’s activities, not least of which is the daily rosary he leads with a group of infirm Residents.
The day’s feast, that of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was an apt day to celebrate the re-dedication of the Home’s chapel. It was also a blessed opportunity for each Little Sister and collaborator to re-dedicate themselves to the mission of Holy Family Home, remarked Sr. Kathleen, also a Philadelphia native, who will watch over the apartment Residents in their new dwellings.
The liturgy’s first reading was proclaimed by Resident Dorothy Gomes, 94, an impressive lector. Following the proclamation of the Gospel by deacon James O’Neill, Bishop Esmilla gave a charismatic homily, eliciting responses from the faithful throughout. He encouraged all who will frequent the chapel to be joyful and holy — in a word, to be saints who spend eternity in heaven!
After the homily, Bishop Esmilla blessed the altar with billows of incense. The deacon then walked through the chapel incensing the walls as a sign of blessing. Two Little Sisters dressed the altar with the altar cloth, and then four others brought the candles. Finally, two Sisters carried forward large bouquets of autumn flowers, which were placed on either side of the altar.
Mother Provincial Alice Marie Monica, Mother Celine Therese and Sr. Robert Francis Marie presented the offertory gifts as the Schola sang Behold the Dwelling of God, a hymn with verses adapted especially for the feast of Mary’s Presentation: “My heart has become the Temple of God … He has made of my womb the gate of heaven, The only Son of the Father took flesh in me, Jesus, the most gracious of all children.”
Mother Provincial Alice Marie Monica and Mother Celine Therese spoke before Mass began to thank all those who had made the new chapel a reality — from Mr. and Mrs. Clark and the Campaign’s executive committee, to the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, Plante Moran, Intech (Construction), SFCS Architects, and Lawrence Hoy of Lawrence Hoy Studios, who designed the chapel. At the conclusion of Mass, all that was left was to invite everyone to gather outside the chapel for fellowship and a light lunch, provided gratis by Captain Chucky’s Crab Cake Company, and served by his staff and the Home’s Jeanne Jugan Associates.
After Christmas the old portions of the building will be demolished, and eventually the landscaping and various other remaining tasks will be completed, but for now all at Holy Family Home rejoice in their new surroundings as they look forward to the future with great hope.
