Religious order plans events to mark 135th anniversary

The Little Sisters of the Poor in Richmond are quite serious about their mission of caring for the elderly.

Their selfless nature typically keeps them out of public view, but the recent canonization of their order's founder, Jeanne Jugan, and their own 135th anniversary have them planning a rare celebration or two.

They are returning to the Fan tomorrow, Jugan's 217th birthday, for an open house at the Warsaw Condominiums, their home from 1877 to 1976. They will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the canonization of Jugan on Thursday at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. They also will host a touring stage production about Jugan next month.

The serious demeanor of being nursing-home administrators -- the 10 sisters oversee a staff of about 120 fulland part-time workers who care for 96 residents -- dissipates rather quickly when the sisters take a moment and step away from their daily responsibilities. A healthy dose of self-deprecating humor comes out as they explain what they do.

"We have old-fashioned values with a modern kick," said Sister Eva Maria, the director of nursing at the home in western Henrico County.

"These are values that are dear to us, but in modern-day life," said Sister Marie Edward, the administrative manager of the facility and the "begging" sister.

The sisters long ago put aside any personal goals or sense of stability in favor of a life devoted to serving the poor.

Sister Eva Maria laughed as she tried running through the list of places she has been assigned.

"We go where God calls us," she said, rattling off a list of cities stretching from coast to coast.

Sister Loretto, the supervisor of the nursing unit, left her native Ireland after getting her call, but she's managed to keep her brogue.

"Oh, that's all mine," she said.

"They just pick up and go, sometimes with only a couple of days notice, based on needs throughout the country," said Christy Heinen, their director of development.

Service to their savior doesn't mean the sisters have been blind to the world around them.

The home they share with their residents has plenty of contemporary touches, from flat-screen televisions to a gift shop. A favorite activity of residents and staff alike is the interactive video gaming system, Wii.

While attending to the daily needs of the elderly requires a professional touch, a sense of levity is evident throughout the facility.

"It's assisted living, not assisted dying," Sister Eva Maria said. The arts-and-crafts room on the lower level is filled top to bottom and side to side with enough raw material to stock a gift shop -- which it does, with everything from rosaries to baby clothing made by residents offered for sale.

Daily devotion is certainly a big part of the Little Sisters operation, but there's much more to life there than the chapel.

"We're active contemplatives," Sister Eva Maria said. "We take the spirit of contemplative prayer and put it into action."

She said they had taken four vows, not the usual three, adding hospitality to the traditional lineup of poverty, obedience and chastity.

Part of the selfless spirit comes from knowing their roles can change. A sister might be in charge in one town and asked to do the daily begging in another. There are no demotions, they said, just change.

"It can be quite a relief," Sister Marie Edward said. "Being in charge carries with it quite a burden."

As the begging sister, she's the one who gets to test daily St. Jugan's faith that God will provide.

"Jeanne Jugan didn't believe in endowments," Sister Eva Maria said. "She said it showed a lack of faith in God to provide. If there's a need, he will provide."

Seven days a week, Sister Marie Edward makes the rounds to gather food, supplies and money. With a second sister in tow, they head out in a van for stops planned and not. There are places they go regularly and others they visit when providence intervenes.

"Sometimes they just see a place and stop," Heinen said. "They'll say, 'God led me here for a reason.'"

People 60 and older of low to moderate income can apply for a spot in the home. Residence isn't restricted to Catholics; about a fifth of the current residents are of other denominations.

"Jeanne Jugan didn't go around asking, 'Are you Catholic?'" Heinen said.

The sisters see Jugan's ascension to sainthood, and their 135th anniversary, as ways to raise their profile.

"There are people who have no idea we're even here," Sister Eva Maria said.

"Even after 135 years," Sister Marie Edward said, "there are still people who haven't heard a word."

Contact Zachary Reid at (804) 775-8179 or .