“God wants me for Himself... He is keeping me for a work which is not yet known...”

– Saint Jeanne Jugan, aged 20

The spirit of the Congregation is the evangelical spirit that Jesus expressed in the Beatitudes. In her life, Saint Jeanne Jugan especially manifested the meekness and humility of the Heart of Christ, and she urged her daughters to do likewise. She taught them that this was their portion in the church, the condition of their survival. She often repeated to them, “Keep the spirit of simplicity and humility, and you will obtain the glory of the God and the conversion of souls! On the other hand, if you become haughty and proud, you will no longer cause God to be honored and that will be the downfall of the Congregation”. Daughters of Saint Jeanne Jugan, we live a life of union with Jesus Christ who was chaste, poor, obedient, and merciful. Our vow of hospitality is the highest expression of the total gift of ourselves to the Lord, since it concretizes the total dedication and availability of heart and mind that are found in the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. This charism, passed down to us by our Mother Foundress, transforms our life into a work of mercy radiant with joy.

We live in fraternal communities, marked with simplicity, respect, and humble service to one another. To be united around Christ in the Eucharist is a source of great apostolic energy; to share our life with one another is a source of joy, and of continual mutual support.

Our life of prayer is the beating heart of our consecration, and of the unfolding of each of our days. Prayer is the foundation of a life totally given to others, after the example of Jesus Himself who said of His Father, “I cannot do anything on my own… I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me” (Jn 5:30), and to His disciples, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

To women aged 18-40, who are seeking to discover God’s plan for their life, we wish to assure you of our prayerful support on your discernment journey. Some helpful steps to consider could be:

Prayer

  • Regularly approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as a source of renewed strength in the following of Christ
  • Assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as often as possible
  • Integrate the Liturgical Prayer of the Church into your life with the Divine Office Liturgy of the Hours | USCCB
  • Learn to read and pray with Scripture (a good place to start could be Fr. Mike Schmitz’s podcast, “The Bible in a Year)
  • Learn silence: forgo music, podcasts, unnecessary messaging, etc., for a determined period of time every day- this gives space to God to speak and be heard (Cf. 1 Kings 19:11-13)

Dialogue

  • Seek mentorship from an older and wiser Catholic, who has already accepted their vocation
  • Find a trusted spiritual director with a good reputation, who will help you to identify and affirm the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life Home - SpiritualDirection.com
  • Contact the nearest Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor- in Enfield, Sr. Carolyn is our Vocations Coordinator, and she will be happy to assist you in any way (see contact information below)
  • Visit the CMSWR website for an extensive directory of women Religious in the United States, and links to various helpful websites Home - Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (cmswr.org)

Service

  • Give freely and generously of your time in service to the poor, as well as to those in your immediate circle

Come and See

  • Get to know us- Visit the Little Sisters of the Poor to experience our mission of hospitality towards the Aged, times of communal prayer, and fraternal life in common. We can offer various opportunities to serve our Residents and visit with the Sisters.

Note: The COVID pandemic continues to impact our flexibility in welcoming young women for service and prayer; however, we can adapt your visit according to the current regulations to facilitate a beneficial encounter for you.


Sr. Carolyn Martin, lsp
Enfield Vocations Coordinator
(860) 402 - 4478