Becoming A Saint

Sacred Heart Residence Anne Barkhouse Mobilians rejoice in the Canonization of Jeanne Jugan.

by Rose Ann Haven

Published: Tue, September 29, 2009 - 8:09 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, September 29, 2009 - 8:39 pm CST

Mobile, Alabama - It's a trip of a lifetime for a small group of Mobilians headed for Rome, Italy.
They're preparing to celebrate the life and soon to be sainthood of a woman who lived hundreds of years ago.

The image of Jeanne Jugan stands in front of her holy legacy. She founded The Little Sisters of The Poor hundreds of years ago.
"She humbled herself, put herself in the background and she literally gave up her home and gave up her bed to elderly sick people, poor people", says Sandy Bedwell, a nurse with Sacred Heart Residence which is run by The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Anne Barkhouse says, "My mother and grandmother told many stories of the sisters..the begging sisters as they were called going around with an old mule or horse and wagon and collecting from the neighbors during the depression".
Now, Barkhouse, her husband, and mother live with The Little Sisters, "Everyone's family here. I can't stress that enough".

The Mobile Order of The Little Sisters is one of 32 in The United States alone. On October eleventh, sisters and those who support them from all over the world will come together in Rome for the canonization of Jeanne Jugan. The Pope will officially recognize their foundress as a saint.
Sister Marie Sophie is thrilled to be a part of history,
"I feel very..that it's a gift from God and a calling also to to become more and more like our foundress to grow more and more like her...because I'm going it's like a calling for me to grow more in holiness like her".

"Jeanne Jugan has always been in the shadows of the world, and now she's coming to the light..and we're going to be a part of that light by being there at that ceremony with her", says Tim Davis, employed by the Little Sisters.

Elderly residents, staff members, and volunteers from The Little Sisters' Sacred Heart Residence will leave for Rome next week.

For more information about the canonization of Jeanne Jugan, go to www.littlesistersofthepoor.org.

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