My sister, Irene, was a typical teenage girl. With a wonderful fashion sense, sharp, and active in school, no one would have ever known of her deep desire to give up the things of this world in service to God. When announcing to my mother that she wanted to become a nun, my mother responded gently saying that she was too young but, “If on your 19th birthday you still have a calling, I will give you my blessing.”
One day when at local chicken farm to purchase eggs, she met the Little Sisters of the Poor during their daily begging rounds. For the next few years,
Irene would visit the Holy Trinity Home in Pawtucket and I would tag along. I could see how much she loved to be with the elderly. She sensed something unique there – the Sisters and their residents were like one family. Growing up in a home filled with love, she knew all about family. After her 19th birthday and with my mother’s blessing, she entered the novitiate and for 44 years Sr. Xavier de St. Dominic lived her life as a Little Sister of the Poor.
Sr. Xavier served in Homes in New Orleans and St. Louis. I remember long drives from South Attleboro to St. Louis with my mother and siblings to visit her. These were long journeys but we were able to witness the love she spread to the elderly. The Residents would call out, “Sister Xavier! Sister Xavier!” They loved her and she responded with her whole heart, spreading her love around them.
My affiliation with the Little Sisters of the Poor dates back to 1940 when I was just 14 years old. I am 97 today and it has been my privilege to faithfully support their mission. I have never missed an event hosted by the Little Sisters – St. Patrick’s Day Dinners, PawSox Outings, Christmas Bazaars, even attending Mass in the Chapel there on Fridays. Just recently, I attended the Summer Soirée.
Throughout these many decades – because of Sr. Xavier as well as daily visits with my sister Jeannette, who lived at Jeanne Jugan Residence for a time – I have a unique perspective. You could say these Little Sisters of the Poor are of the world, but not of the world, that is, they navigate the complex world of healthcare, expertly manage nursing homes with limited means and provide exceptional care. Mostly, they create an environ-
ment of love.
Love is beautiful, but when it is lived out, it’s magnificent!
– Alice