Becoming a Little Sister of the Poor

As our novitiate erupted in joyful peals at the announcement of the canonization, one of the novices exclaimed, “The canonization of Jeanne Jugan gives the world a new hero in love and service!… As a young person and a novice, the canonization fills me with a greater enthusiasm and desire to follow in Jeanne Jugan’s footsteps in the total gift of self to God and the service of the aged poor… May it reaffirm in the hearts of young women the call of God to reach out in love to the elderly poor!”

Reflecting on her own call, she added: “‘Love God very much and the poor in him, and forget yourself!’ This saying of Jeanne Jugan was among the first that deeply struck me as I discerned my vocation to religious life and to the Little Sisters of the Poor. Why? Because it expressed what I was desiring most and what God was inviting me to – a life of total gift of self to God and his service out of love.”

An inner desire for love … an invitation from God … the total gift of self in response to this invitation … a life of loving and joyful service to God’s people… This is what a religious vocation is all about!

Discernment is a journey through which Jesus reveals his loving plan to the one who really seeks him. For those who feel called to follow Jeanne Jugan, formation is a process of progressively taking on the mind and heart of Christ. It means living charity, humility, devotedness to the poor and unconditional trust in God’s loving Providence, just as our beloved foundress did.

Steps of discernment and formation
Generally, single, Catholic women 18-40 years of age may be accepted into the formation program of the Congregation. Those over 40 who desire to share in our life are encouraged to consider membership in the Association Jeanne Jugan. Click here for information on the Association Jeanne Jugan.

Initial discernment
A young woman visits one of our communities and spends time with the Little Sisters in prayer and service. She may choose to volunteer on a regular basis or to work as an employee in order to experience our life and spirit up-close.

Formal discernment
For a young woman who feels that God may be calling her to follow Jeanne Jugan, a live-in experience in one of our homes gives her exposure to our life in its totality – prayer, community and apostolate.

Postulancy
A time of transition, the postulancy usually lasts about nine months. The first few months are spent in one of our homes, where the postulants share our daily life. They are also introduced to our spirituality and traditions. The final months of the postulancy are spent in the novitiate. Postulants wear a simple skirt and blouse to distinguish them from our lay collaborators.

Novitiate
As they receive a new name and the novices’ habit (a jumper, blouse and veil), postulants enter the novitiate and officially become members of the Congregation. During this intense two-year period of prayer and study, novices deepen their relationship with the Lord, their understanding of the faith and of consecrated life, and their love of the Congregation. Each year they spend several weeks in one of our homes. During this time they learn to integrate prayer and action in the service of hospitality. The novitiate culminates in the public ceremony of profession of chastity, poverty, obedience and hospitality for two years.

Temporary Vows
Each new Little Sister is sent out on mission to one of the homes of the Congregation, where she participates fully in our life. This period includes an additional year of doctrinal formation. It may also include training in an area related to the care of the elderly. The four vows are generally renewed for an additional three years.

Second Novitiate
Before pronouncing perpetual vows, each Little Sister spends a year of “second novitiate” at our motherhouse in France. This period offers each one the grace of living where Jeanne Jugan spent the last 23 years of her life. During this time each Little Sister becomes more imbued with the attitudes of our Mother and with the spirit of universality so important to our international religious family.

“At recreation we used to go out into the novitiate garden. There were some wild rose bushes there. She said to me, ‘You see these rose bushes? They’re growing wild. You too are growing wild but, if you allow yourself to be well formed, you will become a beautiful rose fashioned by the love of God.…” An elderly Little Sister who knew Jeanne Jugan recalled this counsel given to her as a novice. These words of our foundress resonate in the heart of each Little Sister as we continue to be fashioned by God’s love … the work of a lifetime!

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