Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – The “indispensable service of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Hong Kong has improved the quality of life of the elderly. I hope that you may be blessed with many more new vocations.” These were the words of Bishop John Tong of Hong Kong in expressing his congratulations to the Little Sisters of the Poor on the canonization of their foundress, Sr. Jeanne Jugan, which took place on October 11 at the Vatican, presided by Pope Benedict XVI.
According to a report from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), the community of Hong Kong gave thanks to the Lord for the canonization in a Solemn Mass celebrated on October 17, presided by Bishop Tong and attended by over 1,000 faithful, religious, and volunteers from the Sr. Jeanne Jugan Association. In his homily, the Bishop of Hong Kong highlighted the importance of the mission of the disciples of the new Saint, announcing the decision of the dioceses to include a practical service experience in the formation plan of the first-year seminarians, which would be carried out in the homes for the elderly that are run by the sisters.
The Congregation for the Little Sisters of the Poor was founded by Saint Jeanne Jugan in 1839, in Saint-Servan (France). The mission of the Congregation is “selfless service to the elderly, offering them comfort and care until the end of their lives,” responding to Jesus' call. When St. Jeanne Jugan passed on from this world, forty years after the foundation in Saint-Servan, the Little Sisters were 2,400, subdivided into over 170 communities in England, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, Ireland, the United States, Algeria, Italy, and Malta. In 1882, the Sisters went to Asia, beginning in India, in Calcutta. They later arrived in Hong Kong in February 1923 and Taiwan in 1968. On December 31, 2005, the congregation numbered nearly 3,000 religious in 208 houses in 32 countries on 5 continents. The Sr. Jeanne Jugan Association began on September 5, 1998 and numbers over 1,900 members worldwide. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/10/2009)
