Abraham Lincoln is said to have invited the Little Sisters to work in the United States out of concern that the Civil War would leave many elderly people without family and several Homes were founded on the East Coast in the 1860s.

The Little Sisters came to Connecticut in 1901 at the invitation of Hartford Bishop Michael Tierney.

St. Andrew’s Home for the Elderly, near St. Raphael’s Hospital, opened in 1902. Close to 4,000 elderly men and women were cared for at that Home. But it was built for another era and deemed “out of conformity” when Medicare/Medicaid/Fire and Safety regulations came into the healthcare scene.

The Little Sisters were faced with closing in 1971 but Providence intervened with the availability of an almost complete facility in Enfield.

The Residents and Little Sisters moved to Enfield in the summer of 1972. Despite the joy of the move, there was a great sadness at leaving friends in New Haven. Over the years, we tried to maintain those bonds while developing new ones in the scenic and historic area of northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

The new Home was dedicated to St. Joseph, special friend of St. Jeanne Jugan and every Little Sister of the Poor. His statue stands in the driveway and his protection has been manifest over the years.

Even though our address and zip code changed, our work for and mission to the elderly did not. If you knew the Little Sisters in New Haven, you would feel the same spirit and joy in Enfield, and in fact, in any of our Homes over the world.

The Little Sisters of the Poor are an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan. The Little Sisters of the Poor serve the elderly poor in over 30 countries around the world with a diverse network of collaborators.

The Little Sisters of the Poor are continuing the work of Saint Jeanne Jugan, our foundress.

The MISSION of the Little Sisters of the Poor 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.

The VISION of the Little Sisters of the Poor is to contribute to the Culture of Life by nurturing communities where each person is valued, the solidarity of the human family and the wisdom of age are celebrated, and the compassionate love of Christ is shared with all.

The VALUES of the Little Sisters include:

• REVERENCE for the sacredness of human life and for the uniqueness of each person, especially those who are poorest and/or weakest. The commitment to reverence is reflected in care that is holistic and person-centered.
• FAMILY SPIRIT offering joyful hospitality embracing all with open arms, hearts and minds; fostering participation in the life of the Home and rejecting all forms of discrimination.
• HUMBLE SERVICE to raise others up and to put their needs before our own; an appreciation of simple, everyday tasks and experiences and humble means of accomplishing our work.
• COMPASSION for sharing the weaknesses and sufferings of others; eagerness to relieve pain in all its forms and to make the elderly happy.
• STEWARDSHIP that recognizes that life and all other goods are gifts from God and should be used responsibly for the good of all; trust in God’s Providence and the generosity of others to provide for our needs; just compensation for our collaborators; a spirit of gratitude and sharing.

The elderly are among our greatest treasures. Their lives offer a unique perspective in our human family. Through their accomplishments, the elderly bring lessons in endurance and self-sacrifice. Through their life-long experiences, the elderly bring lessons in what is important in life.

The Little Sisters of the Poor care for the elderly poor in the same spirit of humble service that we have received from our Foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan. We welcome the elderly as we would Jesus Christ himself and serve them with love and respect until God calls them Home.

• We welcome the elderly who are at least 65 years of age, regardless of faith, race or religion.

• We strive to provide the best level of medical care possible, while also ministering to our Residents emotionally and spiritually.

• Respecting the rules and regulations that apply, we constantly work with our staff to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where the elderly truly feel “at home” and in control of their daily lives.

• Vibrant pastoral and social programs include opportunities for volunteering. Mass is celebrated daily in our chapel for those who choose to attend.

• We adhere to all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, especially those concerning the sanctity of human life. We reject all forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide and we protect our Residents from these practices as well as from all forms of abuse and neglect.

• The compassionate care and accompaniment of the dying is the summit of our ministry. Assisted by family and staff, it is our goal that no one dies alone.

• Like Saint Jeanne Jugan, we create a network of charity with our staff, benefactors and friends to accomplish the care of the residents confided to us.

In the words of our Foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan, “Making the elderly happy, that is what counts!”

The Residents whom Saint Jeanne Jugan received had themselves been reduced to begging. She asked them for the names of persons who had been kind to them and decided to go in their place to ask for help.

There are many stories in our heritage of St. Jeanne the Beggar. And in each of our Homes, there are stories of the Little Sisters who have gone out to ask for help. Often, we hear the stories from the people we meet on our begging tours and weekend parish visits.

Each of our communities has a designated “Begging Little Sister” who goes out daily with a companion to invite others to share our mission of Hospitality. We are all called, from time to time, to act in that capacity, seeking donations, gifts in kind and grants from those who can share.

At St. Joseph’s Residence, the Begging Sisters go to the markets, offices, parishes, businesses and warehouses seeking help. They come home with not only donations but stories of the kindness they have encountered and the requests for prayers that they share with the other Little Sisters and Residents. St. Jeanne Jugan constantly reminded the young Little Sisters of our obligation of prayerful gratitude.

If you would like to help us, take a glance at our wish list page for items that we need to supplement our Residents’ needs such as personal care products, soft drinks and gift cards. And be confident of our grateful prayers.