Philadelphia Stories

             photo by Greg Campisi

Where Charity And Love Prevail
By Mary B. Worthington, The Bulletin
Published: Thursday, December 04, 2008

In 1991, Leonard Poncia received an unsolicited appeal from the Holy Family Home in Southwest, Philadelphia. Most people do not think twice about such solicitations, but Mr. Poncia had been praying for several years for a way to give back to the community after the death of his mother.

His mind was filled with memories of her generosity.

"My entire life that my mother was on this earth, she always gave back," said Mr. Poncia. "Every week someone was receiving money or clothes or food.

"When my mother went to heaven, I started searching for some way to continue in my own small way her giving spirit."

Mr. Poncia had attended Drexel University located mere blocks from the home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor for elderly who are not able to afford health care. However, he had never heard of it, so he called for a tour.

There, he met Mother Mary Vincent Mannion, LSP, a Catholic sister who had dedicated her life to serving Christ through the poor in the spirit of founder Blessed Jeanne Jugan.

Known in her religious life as Sister Mary of the Cross, Blessed Jeanne Jugan founded the religious community in 1839 at the age of 47. The sisters take the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, plus a fourth vow of hospitality. It is that fourth vow that distinguishes them.

The sisters have been in Philadelphia for the past 140 years, where they have been serving the poor of all races, religions and creeds at three homes. The only condition for entrance is that the person be poor.

"Our mission is to take care of the elderly poor in a home-like atmosphere," said Mother Mary Vincent, who now resides in Pittsburgh. "The come to live, but we are there for them as the die, to pray wit them, to be with them as they pass from this life to the next.

"Our apostolate is even more needed today," she explained. "There wasn't a threat as before of killing the elderly [through euthanasia]."

"We are a witness to the Gospel of Life," said Sr. Veronica Coyle, LSP, administrator at the Holy Family Home. "People deserve respect until death. It's too bad: both ends of life are vulnerable."

Among the 33 homes in the United States and Canada, one home remains in Philadelphia, the Holy Family Home. Currently, there are 99 elderly Residents who live in the home, the oldest is 102-year-old Mary Hagan.

The sisters care for each of them as if they were their own family.

"We can't take care of everyone," said Sr. Veronica. "But, we try to take the best care of those entrusted to us and to respect their lives."

Dressed in the traditional habit and veil of Catholic religious life, the sisters also spend recreation time together plus four and a half hours in prayer daily.

Of prayer, their founder once wrote:

"Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find him when your strength and patience are giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to him: 'You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only you. Come to my aid ...' And then go your way. And don't worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. He has an excellent memory."

The Little Sisters trust in God through the generosity of the community in order to properly care for the elderly entrusted to them. Men like Mr. Poncia fulfill that role, and for that reason, he along with Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, received this year's "Spirit of Jeanne Jugan" award.

"It's a labor of love," said Mr. Poncia.

As he accepted the award, Mr. Poncia told a story from the day his relationship with the Little Sisters began. An encounter with an Italian Resident whose name was believed to be Theresa showed him that it was God working to bring him to the Little Sisters. The encounter was unique because until that point she had been semi-comatose and unresponsive.

"I started to speak to Theresa in Italian and like a light suddenly shining out of darkness, Theresa started speaking with me and there wasn't a dry eye in the room," said Mr. Poncia.

"What you give pales in comparison to what you receive in return. Everything I've done in the past 17 years has been so very personally rewarding."

You can volunteer at the Holy Family Home with the Little Sisters of the Poor by contacting Director of Development, Liz Burns at 215-729-5153 ext. 1415