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:[email protected]
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