little sisters of the poor · little sisters of the poor basket bonanza at the grand bethwood jesus...

Little Sisters of the Poor

Providing loving care to the neediest

elderly in New Jersey since 1879.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

Fall 2019

Visit us at www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org ~ 973-942-0300

150th Anniversary CelebrationThesevenLittleSisterswhoarrived

hereonSeptember13,1868,withnomoneyandspeakingnoEnglish,weresustainedbytheirtrustinGod—inthefirmbeliefthattheyweredoinghiswork.Theircouragebeganamissionwhichcontinuestothisday.OnMay22nd,St.Joseph’sHome

celebratedthe150thAnniversaryoftheLittleSisters’arrivalinAmerica.CardinalJosephW.Tobin,with15priests,concelebratedtheEucharisticcelebration.ThemusicduringMasswasbeautiful,withcantors,aguestorganistandtrumpeter.TheCardinalspokeabout

thecharismofSt.JeanneJuganandthetrustintheDivineProvidenceofthefirstLittleSisterswholeftFrancenotknowingwhattheyweregoingtofindoncetheyarrivedintheUnitedStates.Whattheydidfindwas

afriend,ReverendErnestLelièvre,aFrenchpriestdevotedtotheLittleSisters,waitingforthemwhentheirshipdockedinNewYork.Hehadarrivedonlyafewmonthsbeforeandwastobetheirambassadortothisnewcountry.Withhishelpandthatofmanyotherwonderfulfriendsandbenefactors,inafewshortyears,theLittleSistersfirmlyestablishedthemselvesinAmerica.Thethousandsofelderlycaredfor

duringthesepast150years,attesttotheconfidencethosesevenLittleSistershad.Theythussucceededinbringingagreatwaveofcharitytoourshores.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, with the Little Sisters

Mother Provincial Alice Marie Monicaand Mother Mary Thomas

Cardinal Tobin celebrating the 150th Anniversary Mass

Little Sisters of the PoorBasket Bonanza at The Grand Bethwood

Jesus Only You!“AvocationisacallwhichtheLord,alwaysfaithful,renewsfor

usuntiltheendofourlife.Wemustremainattentivetothiscall.ByHisgrace,wewillalwaysbetterunderstanditsfullsignificanceandwillrespondtoitwithdeepermaturityandgreaterlove,forthegreatergloryoftheoneandundividedTrinity.”—(Constitutions,n.21)WhattosayofSisterCecilia’sJubileeCelebrationonJuly2nd

but—JOY!ThiswasthethemechosenbySisterbecauseJOYistheacronymfor“JesusOnlyYou!”TheChapelwaslavishlyadornedwithseveralexquisite

arrangements,aworthybackdropfortheLiturgycommemoratingthe50thAnniversaryofReligiousProfession.FatherMarkCregan,CSC,waspresiderandhomilistwithmanypriestfriendsconcelebrating.LittleSistersfromvariousHomesjoinedfamilyandfriendsandmostespeciallytheResidentshereatSt.Joseph’s,inpraisingGodforthefidelityofoneofHis“littleones.”

“Joypermeatedtheday.TohavestriventolivethecharismofSt.JeanneJugan,IavowmygratitudetomyCongregationfortheunceasingsupportandguidancegivenmylife.Mydebttoallthosewhohavemadethedaypossibleinsomanydifferentways,isimmeasurable.PleasepraywithmethatthefollowingyearsmanifestasincereefforttocontinuetolivethisbeautifulvocationofaLittleSisterofthePoorinallitsattractivenessandexigencies.”—SisterCeciliaofSt.Michael

Forthefirsttime,theAnnualBasketBonanzawasheldatthenewlyrenovatedGrandBethwoodinTotowaandcelebratedthe150thAnniversaryoftheLittleSistersinAmerica.AlargecardboardStatueofLibertygracedeverytablewithanAmericanflagwrappedaroundherbase.TherewerealsosmallAmericanandFrenchflagstowaveiftherewasaluckywinneratthetable.AteachplacetherewerehandmadeSt.JeanneJuganbookmarksandmilkchocolatefleur-de-lisorLittleSisterslollipops.Throughtheamazinggenerosityofbusinessesandindividual

donors,266prizebasketsweremadeupbyourtalentedvolunteersandmembersofAssociationJeanneJugan.Therewere50singlegiftcertificatesand10grandprizesaswell.Amongthemostpopularprizesofthenight:a50”TV,atripfortwotoWaltDisneyWorld,atripfortwotoItalyandafiveburneroutdoorgrill.WeofferourheartfeltthanksandprayerstotheGrand

Bethwoodandtoeveryonewhodonatedprizestotheevent.

Maytheybeasourceofblessingsandprosperity.Wearegratefultoalloftheattendees,whoboughtsomanychancesandhelpedraisemuchneededfundsforSt.Joseph’sHome.AndtothosewhogaveoftheirtimeandtalentstomaketheBasketBonanzasuchasuccess-MaySt.JeanneJuganblessyou!

Our Happy Helper

Bringing Joy To The Elderly

ST. JOSEPH’S HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

“Thosewhoarehappiestarethosewhodothemostforothers.”-BookerT.WashingtonSeventy-oneyearsago,CarlGuidacameintotheworldinthe

middleofaJanuaryblizzard.Godblessedhimwithanamazingmemory,loadsofpatienceandaspirittoworkhardandtohelpothers.HisfatherwasaveteranofD-Day,wholaterbecameapostalclerkandhismotherworkedatSt.Joseph’sHospitalinPaterson.Afterhefinishedhighschool,shegotCarlajobworkinginthehospitaltoo,transportingpatientstoandfromtheoperatingroomandtomanyotherplacestheyneededtogo.Onhisweekendsoff,Carlputhisvastknowledgeandinterest

insportstogoodusevolunteeringattheHaledonP.A.L.Hekeptscoreforthebaseballteamsandmanyoftheothersportstoo.Anavidsportsfan,CarluseshissmartphonetofollowalloftheNewYorksportsteams.Hisroomisfilledwithpicturesandsouvenirsfromhisfavoriteteam,theNewYorkYankees.In2014,after47years,Carldecidedtoretire.Heexplained

that,“BecausetheyalwaysneedhelpinthehospitalandIstillwantedtokeepbusy,Isigneduptobeahospitalvolunteer.”Sotwiceaweek,CarlisbackatSt.Joseph’sHospital,stillhelpingtotransportpatientsandworkingwithofficestaffdeliveringchartsandputtinginformationpacketstogether.Hewassoproudwhenhereceivedhis5yearvolunteerpinthisyear.WhenCarlcametoSt.Joseph’sHomeinAugustof2016,he

waseagertovolunteerhisservicesaroundthehouse.HesawtheResidentspreparingtheenvelopesforourbulkmailingsandaskedifhecouldhelp.NowCarlisoneoftheregularmailingcrew.HealwaysdropsbytheDevelopmentofficetocheckifthereis

somethingtodo—becausethereusuallyis!Carl’sspecialjobinDevelopmentistoseparateeachofthe50/50raffleticketstubsthatcomeintomakesureeveryonehasafairchanceofwinning.HisotherjobistostopbythereceptiondeskdailyandpickuppackageswhichhethendeliversrighttotheResidents’doors.CarlishappiestkeepingbusyandhelpinghisfellowResidents.

HepitchesinwheneverheseesaneedandisanextrapairofhandswhentheResidentsgoontrips.Hesaid,“IseesomeonewhoneedshelpandIwanttodowhatIcan.Itfeelsgooddoingsomethingformyfriendshere.”Carltrulyrepresentsthefamilyspiritthatcanbefoundinour

Homeandweareblessedtohavehim!

Julybroughtussomereallyhotdaysandeveryonehadtostayinside.Thankfully,somefunreliefcamewiththearrivalofthestudentsfromCatholicHEARTWorkCamp.Thecampisdescribedontheirwebsiteas,“ayouth-friendlyandChrist-centeredweekofcaringforothers.”Theseyoungpeoplearriveeagertohelpandfulfilltheirmissionoffeedingthehungryandbringingjoytotheelderly.Theyworkedinthekitchen,servedmealsandhelpedoutinthelaundry.ButwhattheyenjoyedmostwasassistingtheResidentsatactivities.

Fourdifferenteventswerescheduled,oneforeachoftheirdayshere.Bowlingwasthefirst,followedbyCarnivalGamesthenextafternoon.Thestudentsranthe

differentgameswhichtheResidentsplayedtowinprizesofcandy,snacks,stuffedanimalsormoney.Ofcoursetheweekcouldn’tgobywithoutbingoonWednesday!Anicecreamsocialwassavedfortheirlastdaywithus.ThecampersscoopedoutandpreparedmadetoordersundaesandservedthemtoeagerlyawaitingResidents.

Everyoneenjoyedhavingthesefineyoungpeoplevisitingandvolunteeringwithus.WehopethattheytookhomesomehappymemoriesandfunexperiencesoftheirtimeinTotowaandwiththeResidentsofSt.Joseph’sHome.

Current ProjectsA Simple Note By Mother Mary Thomas

Visit us at www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org ~ 973-942-0300

ST. JOSEPH’S HOME FOR THE ELDERLY 140 Shepherd Lane | Totowa, NJ 07512

To Make A Donation Your tax deductible charitable gifts to St. Joseph’s Home provide you valuable tax savings and help us provide loving care for our neediest elderly. To donate on-line visit our web site: www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org and click on “DONATIONS” Remember us in your Estate Planing. The most common way is to include us in your will, but first contact your legal advisor or financial planner. Gifts of life insurance are also appreciated. Our legal name is: St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Many employers offer Matching Gift Programs. Please inquire with your employer.

For more information please call the Development Office at 973-942-0300 ext. 316 or e-mail:twdevelopment@littlesistersofthepoor.org

Christmas Craft & Bake Sale -Ham & Turkey DropSaturday, Nov. 23, 201910am - 4pm at St. Joseph’s HomeFree Admission - Parking & Entrance on Cumberland Ave.

Our Auxiliary’s Christmas Boutique and LuncheonTuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 11am - 3pmat Indian Trail Club, Franklin LakesTickets are $55 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Rockin’ Thru The YearsThe Grand BethwoodMarch or April 2020

Annual Basket BonanzaThe Grand BethwoodTuesday, May 19, 2020

Please visit us at www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.organd check out our News & Events

area for more details about scheduled events.

St. Patrick’s Day50/50 RaffleDrawn on March 17, 2020Tickets are $10.00 eachand will be available late January.This year’s winner received $32,680.00

Upcoming Events

“You’ve Got Mail!”

• Newflooringoneachunitandincommonareas.• Airconditioningforthekitchenandlaundrywhichareunbearablyhotinthesummer.• Pavedamagedareasoftheparkinglot,frontandback,approximatecost,$35,000.00• Repairdamagedareasandplumbingonthefirstfloor.

Forquestionsaboutappeals,donations,mailings,eventsorourwebsite,pleasecontacttheDevelopmentOfficeat973-942-0300ext.316oremailtwdevelopment@littlesistersofthepoor.org.PleaseaddressallmailedcorrespondencetoDevelopmentOf-fice,St.Joseph’sHomefortheElderly,140ShepherdLane,TotowaNJ07512.

TheDevelopmentstaffwouldliketothankeveryonewhoischecking“noacknowl-edgment”whensendingdonationsinandtothosewhohaveupdatedtheiraddressesandcontactinformation.Wehaveovertwodecadesofdonationrecordsonfileshouldanyoneneedtoverifyagiftthatwasmade.Godblessyouallforhelpingusprovidefortheelder-lyinourcareandrememberthattheResidentsandLittleSisterspraydailyforallofyou,ourdearbenefactors,andyourspecialintentions.

Ifyouareinterestedinhelpingwiththeseprojects,pleasemakeanotationwithyourcontributionstatingwhichprojectyouaresponsoringandyourgiftwillberestrictedforthatpurpose.

DearFriends,SummertimearrivedinTotowabringing

joyfulcelebrations,welcomevolunteersandafewsurprises.Inthisnewsletteryouseethatwe

celebratedthe150thAnniversaryoftheLittleSistersinAmericainMayandonJuly2nd,SisterCeciliacelebratedher50thJubileewiththethemeofJOY.Wealsoreadherethatjoycancomefromthegivingofoneself—notonlyasaLittleSister,butalsoasavolunteer,helpingotherswiththetrueChristianspiritofcharity.Nowtospeakofoursurprises—we

experiencedaminordisasterwithafloodthataffectedmostoftheofficesonthefirstfloor.Acompanyspecializingincleanupandremediationhadtobecalledin.Carpets,flooringandwallswereremovedandtheofficestaffwererelocatedtootherareasinthebuilding.AllthiswhilepreparingforandcelebratingSister’sJubilee—thentheDepartmentofHealtharrivedfortheiryearlyinspection!Duringthecleanup,itwasfoundthat

otherareasnotaffectedbythefloodandnotcoveredbyinsurance,requiredremediationandplumbingrepairaswell.Needlesstosay,agreatdealofworkhastobedonebeforethewingcanbereopened.AswecelebratedtheFeastDayofSt.JeanneJuganonAugust30th,weaffirmedourtrustinGod’sDivineProvidencetoseeusthroughthisunfortunatesituation.Wearegratefulforallofyou,our

devotedsupporters.Ihopeandpraythatyouenjoyedyoursummerwithfamilyandfriends.MaytheLordblessyouforallthatyouhavedoneforourHomeduringtheyear.Gratefullyinprayer,SisterMaryThomas