Oct. 11 tribute honors the life and ministry of St. Jeanne Jugan
In this religious icon, St. Jeanne Jugan is depicted as Sister Mary of the Cross, the foundress of the international Little Sisters of the Poor, caring for an elderly poor man and woman. Admission and parking are free for an Oct. 11 musical tribute to her life and ministry to be performed at The Palladium in Carmel, Ind. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 317-843-3800. (Icon of St. Jeanne Jugan with elders by George and Sergio Pinecross, © 2003)
By Mary Ann Garber
Sister Mary of the Cross lived a simple, quiet life devoted to God and caring for poor, elderly people in France.
Now known throughout the world as St. Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the international Little Sisters of the Poor never sought attention for the lifesaving ministry that she began during the winter of 1839 when she brought an elderly, blind and infirm woman into her home.
Yet, after her death, God worked miracles through her intercession. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 3, 1982, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009.
On the third anniversary of her canonization, the humble saint’s life story will be presented in central Indiana in an original musical tribute written by Marty and Lorita Doucette, members of the Association Jeanne Jugan and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Ind.
“A Work Which Is Still Unknown—The Story of St. Jeanne Jugan” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 at The Palladium, a 1,600-seat auditorium in the Center for the Performing Arts at 355 City Center Drive in Carmel.
Admission and parking are free, but tickets are required by calling The Palladium’s box office at 317-843-3800.
A free-will offering will be collected at the conclusion of the performance as an opportunity for audience members to participate in the Little Sisters’ ministry.
Last October, Mother Mary Vincent Mannion, superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor at the St. Augustine Home for the Aged in Indianapolis, felt called by God to share the story of St. Jeanne Jugan’s life and ministry with a larger audience.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish choir members had just presented a musical tribute to the 19th-century saint at the St. Augustine Home Chapel.
It was such a beautiful performance for the residents, Mother Mary Vincent said, and she wanted more people to be able to learn about St. Jeanne Jugan’s love for God as well as her order’s ministry to the elderly poor.
The Little Sisters operate 30 homes in the U.S. in addition to homes in 32 countries on five continents. In Indianapolis, 10 sisters, staff members and volunteers care for 96 residents.
The Doucettes expanded their script, and invited other vocalists, actors and dancers to join Our Lady of Mt. Carmel choir members and St. Theodore Guérin High School students in Noblesville, Ind., in a larger production. The choir now has 180 members.
As part of the performance, the Little Sisters invited Dr. Edward and Jeanne Gatz of Omaha, Neb., to share their story of how prayers for St. Jeanne Jugan’s intercession to God on his behalf led to a miraculous cure from terminal esophageal cancer in 1989.
Twenty-three years later, he is still healthy at age 74.
“I was so touched with the script,” Mother Mary Vincent said. “I was moved to tears. It’s really wonderful. So many people are working very hard to present it.
“I would like everybody to know a little bit more about St. Jeanne Jugan’s life,” she said. “… The way this has been working out, I know it is God’s design because it’s miraculous the way it has all happened.”
Marty Doucette said the celebration of the life and ministry of St. Jeanne Jugan features narrative, music and dance.
“We tell the story of Jeanne Jugan from her childhood all the way to her canonization,” he said. “With this story, we have the opportunity to see into the heart and the mind of a saint.
“… By God’s grace, she was able to fill a gap that existed because there was no social safety net for the poor at a time when France was going through a depression following the French Revolution,” Doucette said.
“… She just happened to be the woman that God called to awaken people to the needs of the poor.”
(For more information about the Oct. 11 performance at The Palladium, log on to www.littlesistersofthepoorindianapolis.org.) †