After a cold, snowy winter, our Residents were happy to welcome the warm spring and summer days. What better way to start off than with our annual May Procession with the first holy communicants from Queen of Angels Regional School in Willow Grove. The impeccably dressed students placed blue roses in front of the statue of our Blessed Mother, which was crowned by one of our apartment Residents. The children led the Sisters and Residents in saying the rosary and then joined us for Mass. Everyone is always happy to welcome the new communicants and reminisce about the May Processions from their childhood days.
Our big event in June was our annual Family Picnic, which was held indoors this year because of the rainy weather. The house was filled with Residents, their families, Sisters and volunteers, enjoying the picnic food, face painting, games, and lively music. Many volunteers helped man the food stations, bake sale, and raffle ticket tables.
Our Residents had an enjoyable visit at the Simeone Foundation Automobile Museum, which is very near to the Home. They spent a few hours admiring the various racing sports cars, ranging from a 1909 American Underslung Traveler to a 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, and learning a little bit about the history of auto racing. They also reminisced about the cars they used to ride in as kids and what they drove later on as adults.
On June 30, 2018, Sr. Marie Ignace Ericson, a member of the Little Sisters’ community here at Holy Family Home for five years, went to her heavenly reward. She was a Little Sister of the Poor for 68 years, spending over 30 of them as a missionary in Asia. Before coming to Holy Family Home she was in charge of the kitchen in our retreat and vacation Home in Flemington, where she cooked delicious meals for the Residents from the various Homes who came for a week’s getaway. May she rest in peace.
On July 10, our oldest Resident, Marion Z., celebrated her 106th birthday. Family and friends gathered to joyfully celebrate in friendly, Hawaiian style.
On Saturday, July 28, Sister Angela Marie Clare Conti professed her first vows as a Little Sister of the Poor at our Novitiate in Queens. We were also blessed to welcome four new novices. Please pray for them and for vocations to the Little Sisters of the Poor.
We closed out the month of August marking the feast day of our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior. We are grateful for the blessings God has bestowed on St. Jeanne Jugan and her work of caring for the elderly poor, which continues today through the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Thank you for being part of our work!
