For the last four weeks building up to St. Jeanne Jugan’s feast day celebrated on August 30th, members of our staff and the Sisters have worked together in groups to produce weekly programs that help define the spirit of St. Jeanne Jugan alive in our Home today. Topics such as spritual needs and preparing for eternity, respect for our Residents, meaningful activities for our Residents and family life were showcased in unique and memorable presentations. Some of the groups used audio visual video programs to present their themes, while others did live shows that addressed their topics. Each presentation focused on how St. Jeanne Jugan’s spirit was alive and well in our Home.
Yesterday, on her feast day, we joined together as family here at the Sacred Heart Home and had a unique visit from the Little Sisters foundress – St. Jeanne Jugan herself (a.k.a. Sr. Rose)! She told us how she had journeyed all the way from France and had come to see us to learn first hand how we were carrying out her Mission of Loving Care for the Elderly. She explained, that each and every one of us that labor, volunteer, donate and give of our talents here at the Sacred Heart Home have a vital and holy role in carrying our her work. We then watched a video produced by one of the groups that showed how we are all part of this family working together to make the lives of the elderly happy, safe and full of love.
We then gathered together outside the main entrance of our Home and each Resident, Sister, staff member and volunteer was given a balloon, 127 in total for each year the Home has existed. Each of these balloons had a tag attached, which read “If found, please contact the Little Sisters of the Poor – Sacred Heart Home 419-698-4331”. We then released all 127 balloons at once and watched them fly high into the sky. The balloons symbolized the Little Sisters Spirit of Caring being released unto the world!
