October 28, 2009

Local celebration honors St. Jeanne Jugan

By Julie Filby

On the afternoon of Oct. 25, more than 600 gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the recent canonization of St. Jeanne Jugan, a French nun who founded the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The weather was cold, gray and damp—and many may have imagined similar conditions that winter day in 1839 when St. Jeanne took in her first beggar. This act of kindness started her charism of welcoming, comforting and caring for the elderly until the end of their lives that continues today.

While the weather was dreary, the cathedral was filled with bright smiles, warm embraces and faithful worshippers of all ages—from newborn babies to delicate elderly—in honor of the new saint.

The main celebrant for the Mass of thanksgiving was Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. Among the concelebrants were Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley; Father Ralph Talkin, S.J., Mullen Home chaplain; and retired Msgr. William Jones who lives at Mullen Home, a residence for the aged managed by the Little Sisters.

Msgr. Jones, who has been a priest for 62 years, conveyed the event’s spirit of joy and community by happily greeting sisters and others during the entrance procession. The celebratory mood was complemented with a powerful rendition of the hymn by Reginald Heber and John B. Dykes, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

“It was so beautiful,” said Mother Paul Magyar, administrator of Mullen Home. “A magnificent celebration.”

In the homily, Archbishop Chaput described how the healing of the blind and the lame in the Scripture readings demonstrated the presence of the Messiah. He then explained the fulfillment of the Gospel in our time and in the context of the day’s celebration.

“The Church’s love for the sick, needy and elderly is a sign that the reign of God is present,” he said. “Sisters, we want to thank you for being a very real sign that the Lord Jesus is present in our lives today.”
Later Archbishop Chaput suggested there was a lesser-known co-foundress of the Little Sisters—Anne Chauvin. Chauvin was the blind elderly widow that Sister Jeanne encountered in the streets in Saint-Servan, France, in 1839. Sister Jeanne was inspired to take Chauvin to her home, where she gave up her own bed to care for the woman.

“Without her,” the archbishop said. “St. Jeanne wouldn’t have become who she became.”

Archbishop Chaput reminded parishioners that the faith of the Church is not just “what we believe, but what we do”—and that the enthusiasm and inspiration of the Holy Spirit are not reserved only for the young.
“St. Jeanne was inspired by God to ‘Get up and do something,’” he said.

He mentioned that she was nearly 50 when she started her special work.

“That was a long time ago when I suspect 50-55 was the lifespan for most people,” he said. “No matter how old you are, God may be calling you to ‘Get up and do something.’”

The congregation laughed when he clarified, “Not at this very moment—maybe at the end of Mass.”

The offertory collection, which was donated to the Little Sisters, was accompanied by the W.M. Merchat hymn “Sister and Servant of the Poor,” describing the spirituality of Jeanne Jugan.

St. Jeanne died in 1879 at age 86. Her work continues today as approximately 2,700 Little Sisters of the Poor care for more than 13,000 residents in 202 homes in 30 other countries around the world.

Every home was represented in Rome when St. Jeanne was canonized Oct. 11 by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Little Sisters’ delegation was estimated at 3,000 people, including 12 representatives from Denver: Mother Paul, two residents from Mullen Home, two volunteers from Mullen Home, friends of the home, and members of the lay Association Jeanne Jugan.
“It was the privilege of a lifetime,” Mother Paul said. “St. Jeanne Jugan seemed so close to us all.”

During the Mass, the Little Sisters present were asked to stand to be recognized for their service. At the conclusion of Mass, a soft-spoken Mother Paul addressed those gathered.

“I’ve been praying to St. Jeanne Jugan to help me say what she would say if she were here,” Mother Paul said. “And I truly believe that she is here.”

She relayed the message the Holy Father shared at the canonization, describing St. Jeanne as “a beacon for modern societies, which have still to rediscover the unique place and contribution of this period of life.”

Mother Paul praised the nearly 30 Mullen Home residents that attended the service, sitting front and center—who then received a round of applause.

“We love them dearly,” she shared. “What they show us is their experience, which is full of wisdom and insight. They are a blessing to our world.”

Following words of gratitude to Archbishop Chaput, archdiocesan priests, sisters, brothers and friends of Mullen Home; she offered special words of love and praise for her Little Sisters. Mother Paul was then honored with a standing ovation.
“We’ve been in the Archdiocese of Denver for 93 years, and we feel so at home here,” she said following the Mass. “The people of Denver are so good to us.”

Guests continued the celebration at a reception in the nearby Knights of Columbus Hall.