Little Sisters of the Poor in India
At the service of the elderly Poor
FOUNDING HISTORY
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SAINT JEANNE JUGAN
A little fishing village named Cancale in Brittany, France was Jeanne's birth place. The date of her birth was 25th October, 1792. She had seven siblings and her father was lost at sea when she was a small child. As a teenager, she worked as a kitchen maid for a wealthy family In 1816 she refused an offer of marriage because, to use her own words, God wants me for Himself.
In 1817 she left home to work in the hospital in Saint Servan. In 1818, unable to find a religious order which appealed to her, Jeanne joined an Association for lay women founded by St John Eudes known as the Third Order of the Admirable Mother. Her life from then on was one of silence, prayer and practical charity towards the poor.
It was the winter of 1839 when she found Anne Chauvin. This elderly, infirm and destitute woman was carried in Jeanne's strong arms and placed in Jeanne's bed. From then on Jeanne Jugan belonged to God and to the elderly of the whole world; the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor was born. This elderly woman was followed by another and another expansion was rapid and by 1850 there were over 100 Little Sisters.
Prayer to Saint Jeanne Jugan
Jesus, you rejoiced and praised your Father for having revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. We thank you for the graces granted to your humble servant, Saint Jeanne Jugan, to whom we confide our petitions and needs. (pause to voice your personal needs and intentions) Father of the poor, you have never refused the prayer of the lowly. We ask you, therefore, to hear the petitions that she presents to you on our behalf. Jesus, through Mary, your Mother and ours, we ask this of you, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Saint Jeanne Jugan, Pray for us.
ISSAC JOHAN
Issac Johan was born thanks to the intercession of Saint Jeanne Jugan. Issac Johan gives his testimony.
Let me introduce myself: I am Isaac Johan, 19 yrs. old, studying 2nd Year BCA at St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore.
My mother is Christabelle Rani and father is Thomas Kennedy Babu.They were married in June 1997 at St. Mary’s Basilica, Shivajinagar, Bangalore.They longed for a child and as days passed into months and months into years their hopes for one did not diminish. But, my mother faced a lot of criticism, sometimes hurtful remarks and at times her presence was seen as taboo at certain ceremonies e.g. babyshowers. Nevertheless both my parents did not give up on the power of prayer neither of them gave up on divine intervention.
It so happened that my uncle Mr. Gilbert Merino who was working in an NGO as executive from Aircel met a Little Sister and spoke to her about my mother’s distress at not being able to conceive. Sister listened and handed him 2 medals of St. Jeanne Jugan together with a prayer card that they should pray everyday. They prayed and they also wore the medal the Little Sister had given.
On the eleventh day the miracle happened. My mother conceived and they attributed this to St. Jeanne Jugan. I was born on the 31st. August the day following Jeanne Jugan’s feast day and during the novena to Our Lady.
My grandmother Angel Vimala, wanted me named after Jugan so my mother chose the name Isaac ( the child of God’s promise fulfilled to Abraham & Sarah in their old age) and Johan, after Jeanne Jugan.
I am happy to give this testimony and make the hidden St. Jeanne Jugan known.
Dated 3-3-2025