LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR St. Joseph’s Home

Serving the elderly poor in Palatine since 1966

Mission Statement

Continuing the work of Jeanne Jugan, our mission is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself. “Old age, in particular, is a time of grace, in which the Lord will renew His call. He calls us to preserve and transmit the faith, calls us to pray, especially to intercede. He calls us to be close to those who may be in need.” Pope Francis. The Gift of the Elderly Save the Dates: ˆˆ April 24, 2016 Our Greatest Treasures Amazing Grace Gala (Guest Speaker, His “We live in a time when the elderly he was doing with the wood, to which the do not count. It’s awful to say, but they child replied, “To make a table for you Excellency Archbishop are discarded...The elderly are those who father, when you become old like grandpa.” Blase Cupich) carry history, that carry the faith and “This story has done me so much good, give it to us as an inheritance. They are St. Joseph’s Home all my life,” the Pope said. “Grandparents like a good vintage wine who have this are a treasure.” Holiday Mass Schedule strength from within to give us a noble heritage.” Pope Francis. We couldn’t agree more. We believe Dec. 24th - 7:30 PM that the elderly are our greatest treasures. Dec. 25th - 10:30 AM Pope Francis has spoken numerous times Did you know that most of our Residents Jan. 1st - 10:30 AM about how the elderly are a “treasure to be are 85 years old or older? Caring for the preserved and strengthened.” He likes to needy elderly is not a chore, but instead a recall a short story he heard as a child. passion for us that brings us great joy and The story relates to a family, consisting happiness. We hope that by sharing in our of a father, mother, the children and the mission, you will experience that same joy St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly grandfather, gathered around the table. in knowing that your support is ensuring a 80 W. Northwest Highway The father, annoyed by the grandfather comfortable, loving home for God’s eldest Palatine, IL 60067 who would dirty himself while eating, children. Through your generosity, we are 847-358-5700 suggests buying a separate table to isolate able to preserve the dignity of our elderly www.LittleSistersofthePoorPalatine.org the grandfather. When the father returns Residents through quality care, along with home one day, he finds his son playing spiritual and emotional support. Fall/Winter 2015 with wood. The father asks his child what Little Sisters of the Poor

that many people like to do,” he said. “In the world we live in it is regarded as burdensome and useless… many of the elderly are put aside, forgotten… what you are actually doing [in caring for the elderly poor], is that you are safeguarding the memory of the church’s family, the memory of faith… Our Lord said, whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me. When you sing to the elderly, when you pray with them, when you caress them or show tenderness, you are doing it to Novices (l to r), Sr. Mary Gerard, Sr. Faustina Claire, & Sr. Mary Magdaleva listen intently to Pope Francis. These novices spent their postulancy here last October - May and professed their first vows in July. Christ...” After praying a Hail Mary together, he blessed the Sisters, and then the Holy Father said, “Pray for me because I have Welcome Papa Francisco a difficult task.” Little Sisters around the world are A Surprise Visit in DC deeply moved and encouraged by the Holy Father’s words. We live the Pope Francis made an impromptu The first car in the Pope’s entourage mission of St. Jeanne Jugan, by offering visit to our Home in Washngton, DC pulled into the driveway at 6:54 p.m., the neediest elderly of every race and after celebrating the Mass canonizing followed by the Pope’s car and several religion a home where they will be Junìpero Serra at the Basilica of the SUV’s. Under a beautiful sky, Pope welcomed as Christ, cared for as family National Shrine of the Immaculate Francis unfolded from his little Fiat 500, and accompanied with dignity until Conception on September 23rd. Earlier and promptly stepped toward Mother God calls them to himself. that day, three Little Sisters attended the Mary Michael, who was waiting by our White House ‘Papal Welcome,’ where chapel door to welcome him. they were notified by the Papal Nuncio More than 40 Little Sisters quietly that the Pope wanted to stop by for a waited in the chapel. The Pope moved private visit with all the Little Sisters. slowly and with great care among them, However, the Sisters had very good taking their hands, and speaking to tickets to the Mass so they went to the each Little Sister. Then, Francis spoke Basilica hoping to make it home on about the importance of our mission in time. At 2:30 p.m., a member of the a society that tends to marginalize the Pope’s planning committee instructed aged and the poor. them to return home. “Caring for the elderly is not a job

AMAZING GRACE GALA 2016

Mark your calendars for April 24, 2016, as we celebrate the Little Sister’s 50 years in Palatine at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly and 140 years in the Chicago area. We are honored to welcome special guest speaker Archbishop Blase Cupich at our Amazing Grace Gala.

The Amazing Grace Gala is our largest fundraiser. Please plan on joining us for a delightful evening with a wonderful speaker, delicious food, and good fellowship. Look for more upcoming details on our website. Pope Francis greets 102 year-old Sr. Marie Mathilde, who was able to respond to Him in Spanish. Around Our Home

The new General Council, top row- (l to r) Sr. Joseph Christine (Scotland), Sr. Celine de la Visitation (US), Mother General María del Monte Auxiliadora (Spain), Sr. Nicole Emmanuel (France); 2nd row - Sr. Patricia Ivonne del Espíritu Santo (), Sr. Benoîte de Susanna enjoys sharing her life story and her treasured family photographs. She met her husband Ste. Bernadette (France) and Sr. Maria Clarette (Sri Lanka) . Alex on a ship as they immigrated from to America. They were married for 37 years. A Christmas Love Story Habemus Generalis: There is something about a Christmas story that warms our hearts. Susanna We have a new Thierjung, one of our Residents shared her touching life story with us. It’s Mother General inspiring to see that the hand of God can be found leading her way from a WWII Russian work camp to our Home. Through the trials of being separated Everyone is familiar with the white smoke from her father and brother, to an escape into Hungary and a solo journey to and “Habemus Papam” of Papal elections. We America. Perhaps the most poignant moment was when a kind young man don’t use white smoke at our motherhouse, named Alex Theirjung whom she met on the ship in September of 1951, but on Tuesday, September 8, the singing invited Susanna to travel across the US to spend Christmas with his family. On of the Te Deum and a flurry of phone calls Christmas Eve, Alex proposed. They were married for 37 years and blessed with and emails announced our own “Habemus three wonderful sons. Read more of Susanna’s story on our blog at www. Generalis” after the delegates to our General LittleSistersofthePoorPalatine.org. Chapter elected our Congregation’s new This is the second year we will be superior general. participating in #GivingTuesday, #Giving- Guided by the Holy Spirit, the delegates chose either through on-line or mailed Sister María del Monte Auxiliadora as our first donations. Spanish superior general! Tuesday Last year our utility bills were On Thanksgiving Day we give over $217,000 from October Mother María, as she asked us to call her, is thanks for the many blessings we through April. We would be so originally from Seville, Spain. She received her have received. The next day (Black grateful for your financial support formation in Los Molinos, Spain, and made Friday) and the following Monday on #GivingTuesday or with your her profession at our motherhouse, La Tour (Cyber Monday), we go full force Christmas giving. Your generosity St. Joseph, in , France in 1982. Before into the Christmas shopping season. will be a tremendous help to us as we being elected to the General Council in 2009, try to pay for our many expenses. Mother María served in a variety of roles in the But, please don’t forget about Congregation, including mistress of novices in #GivingTuesday. This is our Spanish novitiate and provincial superior a day based on a simple idea. It is a way for your in Spain. family, your company or Mother María succeeds Mother Celine de your organization to come la Visitation, who served as superior general together to give something from 1996-2015. Mother Celine, originally more. Then, spread the from San Francisco, CA, was elected to the word, encouraging others General Council, assuming the role of Vicar to give. Join this global General. celebration and help create a new tradition of generosity. Please keep us in your prayers as the Holy This Christmas, give the gift of love, comfort and Spirit guides Mother Maria and her council to This Day of Giving will be quality care to a needy elderly Resident. Mail in the celebrated around the world enclosed donation envelope or donate online at lead our Congregation. St. Jeanne Jugan, pray on Tuesday, December 1st. www.LittleSistersofthePoorPalatine.org for us! A Moment with Mother Marguerite

What better way to begin our Christmas celebration than with the start of the ‘Year of Mercy’ ! In March, Pope Francis declared that December 8, 2015 would be the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. He explained, ‘I have asked the Church in this Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness encompassed by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself taught us.’ We are delighted that the Holy Father has officially recognized the personal witness of Christ’s mercy in the world, as we strive to do every day for our elderly Residents.

Mother Marguerite and Speaking of personal witnesses, as you read on page 2, in September, we were blessed Resident Carmen Manno with a surprise visit by the Holy Farther at our Washington, D.C. Home. I can’t tell you what an honor and blessing it was for every Little Sister around the world to have Pope Francis personally acknowledge and support our ministry by his visit. We are very pleased to begin preparing for the 50th Anniversary of St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Palatine and 140 years since the Little Sisters traveled to Chicago from France. Please mark your calendar for April 24, 2016, His Excellency Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich will be our special guest speaker as we celebrate at our Amazing Grace Gala. Stay tuned for announcements of other celebrations marking this momentous milestone in our history. This is an exciting time of year for giving gifts and tokens of love to our family and friends. Won’t you please remember our elderly Residents when you plan your Christmas giving? This will be the second year we are participating in the #GivingTuesday global day of giving. If you are considering a contribution in accordance with this day, please consider directing it to us. Our gratitude for your generosity is hard to put into words. We know that we could not continue without your prayers, volunteer hours and financial support. As a small token of our thanks, I would like invite you to prepare for this holy season with our online Advent Calendar. Each day offers a daily reflection to prepare for Christmas. Also, during this Christmas season, in gratitude for your generosity, we will bring your intentions in prayer to the infant Jesus in our manger. All our Residents and Little Sisters join me in wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with love and mercy.

Prepare Thee the Way of the Lord

The season of Advent is quickly Just click on the Advent Calendar icon approaching. It is our prayerful wish in the lower right hand side of our that hope, peace, joy and love will fill Home page. Each day during Advent, your hearts and your homes. To help you can open a window to learn about prepare for Christmas, we have a special the symbols and traditions, read a gift for you! Beginning November 29th, reflection, listen to a song, or view a you can access our St. Joseph’s Home special picture, and/or video. Advent Calendar on our website In the hustle and bustle in the weeks Lit tleSistersofthePoorPalatine.org. leading to Christmas, we hope that

you will take a few minutes with Do you know the meaning behind us each day to open a door on our the Advent wreath or the history of Advent calendar to reflect on the true the poinsettia or candy cane? You will ‘reason for the season’. find those answers and much more.

Visit us at www.LittleSistersofthePoorPalatine.org