Welcome

Welcome to the web-site of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Holy Family Home in Philadelphia.

Our Mother Foundress, Blessed Jeanne Jugan, possessed a great gift, a magnanimous heart that could embrace the world! A poor country woman, daughter of a fisherman, she had been chosen by God to begin a work that would reverberate across the centuries.  When she threw open the door of her apartment on that cold winter’s day in 1839 and placed Anne Chauvin in her own bed, the echo of this deed continues to be heard yet even today.  God entrusted to this woman the dearest of all His Children, the elderly Poor. 

Jeanne was a woman of few words.  The only written words she left us were her signature.  Yet she captured the heart of her work precisely when she told the novices, “Love, have great respect for the poor, always see God in them.  You must never make them unhappy.  You must always see our Lord in the Poor.” (Poor in Spirit).  In these few words she captured the heart of hospitality, that virtue that was to be the hallmark of her legacy in the world and in the Church. 

Today those words are no less relevant.  Today, in 2009, her daughters continue to seek to radiate the joy found in hospitality, to continue to welcome Christ in the person of the Elderly.  For 140 years the Little Sisters have had the great joy of welcoming the elderly here in this city of Brotherly Love.  Responding to a pressing need, the Sisters arrived in Philadelphia on August 24, 1869.  Jeanne Jugan was still alive to witness this spreading of her work to the far reaches of the earth.  The work of the Little Sisters began in the heart of the city at 18th and Jefferson Avenues then expanded to include St. Michael’s Home in Germantown and then to Southwest Philadelphia where the Little Sisters opened Sacred Heart Home in 1902. When the Home was rebuilt in the 70’s, the name was changed to Holy Family Home.  We are happy to be able to celebrate 107 years of Consecrated Hospitality here at Holy Family Home on Chester Ave and 53rd Street. 

But behind this long history are generations of generous benefactors and friends who have made this all possible and we are happy to be able to share our history and our story with you.  We don’t do this alone and you for your part share in our hospitality through your generosity and kindness to us.

On our part, the Little Sisters of the Poor are deeply indebted to those who share in our work by their generosity and we seek to repay this debt by asking God to bless you as only He can.  You are remembered daily in our grateful prayers for you. 

Sincerely in His Love,

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