The month of August has been a time to celebrate the charism of St. Jeanne Jugan.
Many activities revolving around the life and times of St. Jeanne Jugan were presented and shard by Residents, Sisters, staff, AJJ Members and guests. The month began by reciting the Novena to St. Jeanne Jugan together every Monday and a movie every weekend about a French saint.
Different departments sponsored events: there was an afternoon of trivia and a visit from St. Jeanne Jugan in the Coffee Shop with refreshments and prizes; on St. Joseph Sharing Day, Residents brought their St. Joseph statues and pictures to the auditorium where they were displayed. Each Resident received a holy card of St. Joseph and shared stories of St. Joseph that affected them personally; the AJJ sponsored a Waffle Sundae Party on the patio; and, volunteers helped the Residents make Memory Books of St. Jeanne Jugan. The kitchen and laundry staff treated the Residents to Snail Soup — a true and false quiz about St. Jeanne Jugan and Mullen Home. How the question was answered determined which pot the snail card was placed. The administration staff sponsored a day called the Desert and the Rose. The Residents searched for the roses and if they found one with a message written in it, they took the rose to the office referenced in the card and received a gift from that staff member. For most the rose was the best gift. We also walked in the footsteps of St. Jeanne Jugan. The Residents, Sisters and staff gathered in the Coffee shop and received a small footprint with a saying of St. Jeanne Jugan printed on it. Everyone proceeded to the chapel where Fr. John Canjar lead the group in praying the Litany of St. Jeanne Jugan.
The family of Residents, Sisters, staff volunteers, AJJ, and families have enjoyed a month of growing and celebrating in the spirit of St. Jeanne Jugan. Each day of our lives lived in the example set by St. Jeanne Jugan brings us closer to rising up towards God, “blossoming like a rose’. Happy Feast Day, St. Jeanne Jugan.
Celebrating Saint Jeanne Jugan all month long …