The Jeanne Jugan Residence and St. Joseph’s Villa sit on a beautiful seven-acre wooded lot with landscaped gardens, across the street from Catholic University and just down the road from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
We can welcome as many as 90 Residents in our Home and respond to their varying needs by providing three levels of care.
The Jeanne Jugan Residence Offers two levels of care:
Rooms in each unit feature private bathrooms and sitting areas.
St. Joseph’s Villa Offers:
Beautiful apartments for physically active, low-income seniors who wish to remain independent but enjoy the safety afforded by living just next door to the Jeanne Jugan Residence. Each unit has its own kitchen, although Residents are welcome to join us at the Jeanne Jugan Residence for meals. The building also contains a laundry room, storage area for each tenant and a large lounge.
Services for Residents:
Regular medical services are provided on-site and include physical therapy, medical, podiatry, and dental and psychiatry services.
We have a robust Activities Program that is offered free of charge to all Residents:
In the years following the Civil War, Washington’s population was expanding rapidly but there was relatively slow progress in the delivery of basic services and few governmental provisions for social welfare. Federal assistance for the impoverished was practically non-existent.
It was at this time, in 1871, that Father Jacob Ambrose Walter, the fourth pastor of St. Patrick’s church, the oldest Catholic parish in Washington City, welcomed seven Little Sisters of the Poor from France to care for the aged poor in a building he provided them at 924 G Street, NW.
The Little Sisters soon attracted considerable attention and political support in late-19th century Washington. This political support aided their efforts and soon after their arrival the Sisters were granted unprecedented permission to beg for donations in the buildings of the federal government. This permission continued all the way up to September 11, 2001, when access to federal buildings became more restricted.
Such favor among Washington’s Catholics and non-Catholics alike was immensely helpful when we outgrew our first Home at St. Patrick’s after only two years.
In 1872, Father Walters, who was then preparing his own campaign to build the present St. Patrick’s church, helped the Sisters find property at 220 H Street, NE, located near Union Station.
By the 1970’s, however, construction of the six-lane H Street Bridge brought the roadway within 10-feet of the front of the Home. A serious fire on the bridge, followed by a car accident that caused a vehicle to jump the safety rail and crash into the property, forced St. Joseph’s Home to relocate.
In March 1977, the Sisters moved from H Street and briefly left the District of Columbia before re-opening the Jeanne Jugan Residence in its present location on Harewood Road in 1982. St. Joseph Villa, consisting of 24 apartments for independent seniors, was constructed in 1999.
The Jeanne Jugan Residence has had a front row seat to many important national events during the past 150 years.
Our Home has welcomed quite a few notable visitors including Eleanor Roosevelt and President and Mrs. George W. Bush. We were also blessed to provide a home to James Cardinal Hickey in his final years.
The Little Sisters of the Poor care for the elderly poor in the spirit of humble service that we have received from our foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan. The Little Sisters welcome the elderly, receive them as God’s children and as members of our own family, and serve them with love and respect until God calls them Home.
For more information on the philosophy of the Little Sisters of the Poor, click here.
Saint Jeanne Jugan founded the future of her work on an evangelical challenge to live from day to day, never amassing goods or money, refusing perpetual endowments, placing all one’s confidence in God.
She traveled the roads on foot seeking alms, food, clothing and other items essential to the home. “If you’d like,” Jeanne Jugan said one day to a businessman, “we can share the elderly today; you can feed them and I’ll take care of them.”
Our begging Sister, Sr. Jeanne Veronique carries on this 187-year-old tradition by begging for all the needs of our Home.
Several times each week, she and another Little Sister go to businesses and markets around the Washington, D.C. area in our “begging van” seeking donations of food, commodities and monetary assistance.
Then, each Sunday, they visit churches around the archdiocese with our “begging basket,” providing an opportunity for parishioners to help us in our work.
In addition, we are often the grateful recipients of very generous donations of food and other needed items collected through the energy of local parishes and schools.
It is with the continuing support from our friends and benefactors that we have been able to care for the elderly poor in the nation’s capital for more than 153 years and we are committed to caring for them for many years to come.
Like Saint Jeanne Jugan, we believe that if we are faithful to our mission of caring for the poor, God will provide.
In the words of Saint Jeanne Jugan, “We must always say: ‘Blessed by God. Thank you, my God. Glory be to God.” Following her tradition, we always thank our benefactors by praying for them each day and a special Mass each month.
When sandbags, buckets and towels were no longer enough . . . it was time to raise money
The three-year capital campaign for the Jeanne Jugan Residence succeeded in reaching its $12 million target, the Little Sisters and the capital campaign committee have announced.
The Building Together on Sacred Ground Capital Campaign was the largest fundraising initiative since the founding of our Home in our 1871.
The money came with the help of 8,804 generous donors who contributed gifts ranging from $2 to $2 million.
The funds were needed for numerous essential upgrades and repairs to the buildings and grounds.
“Our Home is a safer place today for our Residents and all the Little Sisters because of the outpouring of support and prayers from the community,” said Mother Mary Michael. “Importantly, this work allows us to sustain our Home and to care for this city’s elderly for many years to come. We thank God for the mercy and compassion of the many people who so beautifully opened their hearts to support our mission.”
Initial plans for the campaign were launched as the Great Recession roiled the economy.
But despite the harsh economic climate, the Little Sisters recognized that to continue their mission, and to be good stewards of what God has given us through your generosity, the aging buildings and infrastructure demanded attention. Further delay would mean continued deterioration, unsafe conditions, rising repair costs and soaring utility bills.
The challenge was to raise $12 million without affecting the operating budget needed to serve our Residents.
“We were confident in our plan and God,” said Mother Mary Michael, citing the words of Saint Jeanne Jugan, our Mother Foundress: “Give us this house. If God fills it, God will not abandon it.”
Certain in the urgency of our purpose and blessed with the guiding presence of B.F. Saul as chair of the campaign, fundraising began in the spring of 2014.
After we achieved what seemed a daunting goal, Mr. Saul said, “I have been honored to serve as chair of this campaign and express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has played a role in this historic effort on behalf of The Little Sisters of the Poor.”
Following is a list of improvements the generosity of our benefactors has enabled us to accomplish, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our Home and the ability for The Little Sisters to continue our mission to serve the elderly poor of Washington for years to come:
Mother Margaret Halloran, l.s.p., Superior
President
Sr. Francis King, l.s.p.
Vice-President/Secretary
Sr. Alphonse Jones, l.s.p.
Councilor and Treasurer
Sr. Jacintha Dsouza, l.s.p.
Councilor
To present the most transparent and complete picture of The Little Sisters of the Poor of Washington, D.C., Inc., finances, each year the firm GROSS MENDELSOHN CPAs AND ADVISORS conducts an audit, which is available upon request.
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