Renewal of AJJ Promises May 7, 2023

May 7, 2023 was a day of joyful gratitude at Holy Family Home as Pat Boyle and Mike Zaleta were welcomed into the Association Jeanne Jugan, making their Promise for the first time, while 34 Jeanne Jugan Associates renewed their commitment with these words:

“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.”

Mother Celine Thérèse, Pat Boyle, Mike Zaleta, Sr Veronica

We offer heartfelt thanks to God for our Jeanne Jugan Associates! How He blesses us with their active and spiritual contribution to our mission!

Holy Family Home is still honored to have Philly’s First Jeanne Jugan Associate – Mary Frances Cantwell. For over 58 years, she 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.”

Following the example of St. Jeanne Jugan, our Associates confide themselves to the care of Our Blessed Mother. This year, they found it fitting to include the May Crowning in their Mass of Renewal of Promises. Eileen Solarz, AJJ was the Crown Bearer and Helena Kim, Resident, crowned our Lady.

“It ain’t easy to get to my old feet!” many an Independent Resident could be heard complaining. “Well, come treat your feet to a relaxing soaking!” replied the Jeanne Jugan Associates in Philadelphia!

Not many Residents responded to this first post-pandemic invitation, but those who did were happy and the AJJs were happy “to make the Residents happy.” That’s what counts, according to our Mother, St. Jeanne Jugan. And so, equipped with vibrating, bubbling, massaging foot spas donated by the Jeanne Jugan Associates in Scranton, all are willing to try again next month.

“Best wishes for the Year of the Rabbit!” Holy Family Home Administrator, Pat Lo, greeted everyone on January 21, 2023, as she went around giving out red bags of Chinese specialties for this occasion.

Pat Lo, a Philly-Girl, born at Misericordia Hospital, is of Chinese descent. Her father’s work eventually brought his family back to the Orient and Pat was educated in Taiwan through high school, after which she returned to the U.S. to study at Villanova University.

Being well versed in Chinese culture, Pat would annually, over the past 30 years that she has worked at Holy Family Home, don an oriental outfit and give, in the Socal Hall, a show-and-tell presentation of the rich Chinese culture. Being a Jeanne Jugan Associate for the past 22 years, Pat is also well versed in the spirit of our Foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, which prompts her to find many was to make our Residents happy. This year, as she distributed her red and gold favors she explained that the eve of the lunar new year is like Christmas Eve, a family feast.

We were touched to know that instead of being with her siblings (They would wait until the morrow!) she chose to share this traditonal celebration with us, her extended family. So around to each Resident she went, brightening their day with the joy of the color red and the golden richness of her friendship.