Historic Renewal of Association Jeanne Jugan Promises
This was an historic event! Monsignor William Kaufman celebrated Holy Mass. All ears perked up when he opened his homily by recounting his long personal history with Jeanne Jugan. He first knew of her when he was a teenage volunteer at Sacred Heart Home. He went to Rome to participate in both her Beatification by Pope John Paul II in 1982, and her Canonization by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. The Little Sisters could add that Monsignor Kaufman continues to promote devotion to Jeanne Jugan. He placed a statue of their Foundress in St. Pius X Church, where he is Pastor. He welcomes the Little Sisters regularly for church collections. He supports our fundraisers. His long uninterrupted years as a friend of the Little Sisters of the Poor should go down in history!
At the end of Mass, addressing our Jeanne Jugan Associates on May 5, 2024, Mother Celine Thérèse reminded them how they were making history:
The situation made history! This was the first and the last time they would be renewing their Promises in our temporary chapel. God willing, this time next year, on or close to the feast of Saint Joseph, the Worker, we will gather in our newly renovated chapel for the Renewal of AJJ Promises. It seemed fitting that it would be in this improvised setting, just below his mother’s former apartment, that Patrick Ireland would make his Promise for the first time. Caring for Mom was where Patrick began to serve the Elderly, as St. Jeanne Jugan would do, with loving dedication. Mother Celine Thérèse welcomed Patrick as a full-fledged Associate as he completed the spiritual formation program with Sr. Veronica Susan of Mary and pronounced his first AJJ commitment with a loud voice: “In your presence, Lord Jesus, with your grace and through Mary’s intercession, I commit myself to the Association Jeanne Jugan of the Little Sisters of the Poor, for one year. I promise to serve you in the elderly with joy and love, by following the example of humility and confidence left to us by Jeanne Jugan.”
Mary Frances made history! This was her Diamond Jubilee! Sixty years ago, on May 1, 1964, she made her first Promise as an “Oblate of the Little Sisters of the Poor,” (Former name for Associates.) Yes, Holy Family Home is honored to have Philly’s very first Oblate, later, Jeanne Jugan Associate. For over 60 years, Mary Frances has rendered faithful, loving service to countless Residents, Little Sisters, and Guests, “following the example of humility and confidence left to us by Jeanne Jugan.”
AJJ expansion made history! This date marks when Holy Family Home gained 12 new Associates! Sadly, the Little Sisters of the Poor withdrew from “Holy Family Residence” in Scranton. Happily, their “next-door-neighbors,” the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, were able to carry on this ministry and the IHMs welcomed the ongoing presence of our Jeanne Jugan Associates who pledged to keep up the spirit of Jeanne Jugan in “NEPA” (Northeast Pennsylvania.) This dedicated group has had Retreat Days to prepare for the renewal of their AJJ Promises and they have continued to serve as Eucharistic Ministers, visitors, amateur gardeners, and merry-makers. To be recorded in history, as of May, 2024, these Scranton Associates will be numbered as part of the Philadelphia Jeanne Jugan Association. They have already participated in some of the meetings via Zoom and will be invited to spiritual enrichment and ongoing formation offered at Holy Family Home.
Six of the “Awesome AJJ Dozen” Associates who continue to keep up the spirit of Jeanne Jugan at Marywood Heights (formerly Holy Family Residence)
We rejoice to celebrate the historic way we stay connected as the family of Saint Jeanne Jugan!
