About Little Sisters of the Poor · Washington, District of Columbia
The Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C., operate the Jeanne Jugan Residence, a Catholic home for low-income elderly on a wooded seven-acre campus at 4200 Harewood Road NE in the Brookland neighborhood, directly across from The Catholic University of America and just down the road from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Founded in France in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan, the international congregation has cared for the aged poor in the nation's capital since 1871, when seven Sisters arrived from France at the invitation of Father Jacob Ambrose Walter, then pastor of St. Patrick's Church. The Residence offers residential/boarding care, skilled nursing care, and (through St. Joseph's Villa) 24 independent-living apartments for low-income seniors who wish to remain active. Twelve Little Sisters live on site, sharing their lives with the Residents around the clock, and the community welcomes people of every race, religion, and nationality.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Saint Jeanne Jugan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
The Jeanne Jugan Residence is one of the most distinctive Catholic charities in Washington: an international religious congregation living in the same building as the elderly Residents they serve, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Daily Mass is celebrated in the chapel, the Sisters keep a half-hour daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament and pray the Liturgy of the Hours in common, and lay Catholics can join that spiritual life as members of the Association Jeanne Jugan or as volunteers who serve as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, host a monthly French Café dinner, lead arts and crafts, drive Residents to appointments, or simply keep company with those who are room-bound. For 150 years the Little Sisters have welcomed people of every race and religion into a home where, as they put it, the elderly are 'welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity' — a mission that is sustained almost entirely by donations from friends and benefactors.
Mass times at Little Sisters of the Poor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sacrament of Reconciliation available on a regular basis (Reconciliation Room in the chapel)
Adoration times
- Half-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament each day (Sisters' community practice)
Welcome: The Jeanne Jugan Residence
The Jeanne Jugan Residence is the Washington, D.C., home of the Little Sisters of the Poor — an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious who have served the elderly poor in over 30 countries since 1839. Because the Little Sisters actually live at the Home, they share their entire lives with the Residents, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The Home can welcome as many as 90 Residents and responds to their varying needs by providing three levels of care. The Residence sits on a beautiful seven-acre wooded lot with landscaped gardens, across the street from The Catholic University of America and just down the road from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
- Jeanne Jugan Residence: 26 residential/boarding rooms and 40 nursing facility rooms, each with private bathrooms and sitting areas
- St. Joseph's Villa: 24 independent-living apartments for physically active, low-income seniors
- On-site medical services: physical therapy, medical, podiatry, dental and psychiatry
- Daily Mass celebrated in the Residence's chapel
- Robust activities program offered free of charge to all Residents
Mission and Charism
The mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself. Their vision is to contribute to the Culture of Life by nurturing communities where each person is valued, to celebrate the wisdom of age, and to share the compassionate love of Christ with all. Their fourth vow of Hospitality gives a spiritual value to the many activities of each day and enables the Sisters to communicate God's compassion and merciful love to the elderly.
- Reverence for the sacredness of human life
- Family Spirit — joyful hospitality with open arms, hearts and minds
- Humble Service — raising others up
- Compassion for the weaknesses and sufferings of others
- Stewardship — trusting in God's Providence and the generosity of others
History in Washington, D.C.
The Little Sisters of the Poor arrived in Washington in 1871 at the invitation of Father Jacob Ambrose Walter, the fourth pastor of St. Patrick's Church (the oldest Catholic parish in Washington City). They opened their first Home at 924 G Street, NW, then moved to 220 H Street, NE, near Union Station, in 1873. For more than a century they operated St. Joseph's Home for the Aged from that H Street site until construction of the H Street Bridge brought traffic within ten feet of the building. In 1977 the Sisters relocated; in 1982 they returned to the District and opened the present Jeanne Jugan Residence on Harewood Road NE. St. Joseph's Villa, the 24-apartment independent-living wing, was constructed in 1999.
- 1871 — Seven Little Sisters arrive from France; welcomed by Fr. Jacob Ambrose Walter
- 1873 — New H Street, NE, Home blessed by Father Walter
- 1885 — Home accommodates 150 Residents
- 1977 — Sisters leave H Street after bridge construction, fire and crash
- 1982 — Jeanne Jugan Residence opens on Harewood Road (named for foundress)
- 1999 — St. Joseph's Villa (24 apartments) constructed
- 2021 — Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory celebrates Mass for 150th anniversary
Admissions
Admission to the Jeanne Jugan Residence is open to low-income elderly persons of at least 65 years of age, regardless of race, nationality or religion. Individuals, married couples and elderly priests are welcome to apply. The admission process is Home-specific and usually begins with a phone call to the admissions coordinator. After submitting the application papers and medical forms, an applicant can be placed on the waiting list for further consideration; a personal interview with the Little Sisters and an acquaintance visit are also part of the process. There is typically a waiting list.
- Contact: admissions coordinator, [email protected] or (202) 269-1831
- Three levels of care: residential/boarding, skilled nursing, and independent living at St. Joseph's Villa
- Application begins with a phone call, followed by a tour and an interview
Daily Life, Activities and Spiritual Care
The Little Sisters emphasize a holistic approach to care, monitoring each Resident's physical, spiritual, social, cultural, psychological and environmental well-being. The Home provides an on-site barber and beauty shop, social and recreational activities (bingo, card games, performances, lectures and movies), arts and crafts classes, exercise and discussion groups, festive birthday and holiday celebrations, and frequent trips to shopping malls, museums, galleries and special events in the area. Spiritual life centers on daily Mass in the chapel, with the Sisters praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary and a half-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament each day. Two therapeutic Tea Cup Yorkshire Terriers — Silas and Paul — make daily rounds, continuing a tradition that dates back to the use of therapy dogs in convalescent care during World War II.
- Daily Mass in the Residence's chapel
- Social and recreational activities — bingo, card games, performances, lectures and movies
- Arts and crafts, exercise and discussion groups
- Birthday and holiday celebrations
- On-site barber/beauty shop
- Trips to museums, galleries, parks, ball games, plays and musicals
- French Café for coffee and special events
- Therapeutic pet visits with Silas and Paul
Spiritual Life of the Little Sisters (Vocation)
Beyond their ministry to Residents, the Little Sisters themselves keep a deep, structured life of prayer that sustains the Home. Their community day includes daily Mass with the Sisters and the elderly, the Liturgy of the Hours sung in community (Morning, Evening and Night Prayer), a daily morning meditation, a half-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament, the daily recitation of the Rosary, Lectio Divina and spiritual reading, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis, and habits of silence that cultivate intimacy with God — meals are usually taken in silence. Several moments of retreat each year refresh the Sisters at the fountain of God's love.
- Daily Mass with the Sisters and elderly
- Liturgy of the Hours (Morning, Evening, Night Prayer)
- Daily morning meditation
- Daily half-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament
- Daily Rosary
- Lectio Divina and spiritual reading
- Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis
- Moments of retreat throughout the year
Get Involved — Volunteers and the Association Jeanne Jugan
The Little Sisters welcome volunteers of all ages into the life of the Home. Adult volunteers help in the gardens, assist with serving meals, provide transportation for appointments and outings, help with recreational activities, accompany Residents in wheelchairs, and offer companionship. Youth volunteers may assist with regularly scheduled activities, support office or cleaning projects, organize school- or parish-based collections of personal hygiene items, canned goods and bingo prizes, or visit as a group to perform music, recitals or plays. Members of the Association Jeanne Jugan (AJJ) — a Catholic lay organization — share more deeply in the spirituality and mission of the Little Sisters, serving as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, visiting Residents who are room-bound or in hospital, helping during meal service, and hosting a monthly French Café dinner for 12 Residents.
- Adult volunteer opportunities — gardens, meals, transportation, recreation, companionship
- Youth volunteer opportunities (under-18s must be chaperoned)
- School and parish service projects
- Visiting groups — vocal/instrumental performances, recitals and plays
- Association Jeanne Jugan (AJJ) lay membership — Sr. Dorothy, [email protected]
- Volunteer inquiries: [email protected]
Donate and Support
Following the tradition of Saint Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters do not accept endowments and rely on God's Providence for all their needs, with the help of friends and benefactors. They must raise roughly 48 percent of their operating income through fundraising — direct mail, church collections, planned giving, grants and events. Caring for the elderly poor far exceeds what their small pensions, Social Security and Medicaid cover. There are many ways to give, including one-time and recurring online donations, matching gifts, workplace giving through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC # 53116), planned giving, and gifts-in-kind.
- Development Director: Heather Cave, [email protected], (202) 269-1831
- Combined Federal Campaign # 53116
- Sustained (recurring) giving — weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly
- Planned giving through wills and estates
- Matching gifts from employers
- Gifts-in-kind (food, personal care items, office supplies)
- Annual Tea and Tulips 'friend-raising' event
- Donations are tax-deductible; legal name: Little Sisters of the Poor of Washington, D.C., Inc.; Tax ID 53-0227542
Contact and Staff
The Jeanne Jugan Residence is staffed around the clock, with twelve Little Sisters living on site and a dedicated lay team carrying out the Home's nursing, administrative, development, volunteer and communications work. Inquiries are routed through dedicated email addresses for each role; the main number is (202) 269-1831.
- Mother Superior — Mother Patricia Mary Metz, [email protected]
- Administrator — Evelyn Manger, [email protected] (assistant: [email protected])
- Development Director — Heather Cave, [email protected]
- Vocations — Sr. Constance, [email protected]
- Association Jeanne Jugan — Sr. Dorothy, [email protected]
- Volunteer Coordinator — Elizabeth McCormick, [email protected]
- Employment — Ms. Rayona Briggs, [email protected]
- Giving Opportunities — Sr. Jeanne Veronique, [email protected]
- Admissions Coordinator — [email protected]
Brookland's 'Little Rome'
The Jeanne Jugan Residence is one of the cluster of Catholic institutions around The Catholic University of America in the Brookland neighborhood — the area often called 'Little Rome.' The presence of religious orders, seminaries, monasteries and houses of study has been a defining feature of Catholic University since it was founded in 1887, and the Little Sisters are listed among the orders that have made their home there. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — the largest Roman Catholic church in North America — is just down the road, along with St. Anselm's Abbey, the Dominican House of Studies and Saint John Paul II Seminary.
- Across from The Catholic University of America
- Adjacent to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- Part of the Brookland 'Little Rome' cluster of Catholic institutions