February 27, 2009
Evansville Little Sisters: We’ve waited a long time for this day
Mother Rose Marie Maylock sits next to a statue of Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Mother Rose Marie is the superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor home in Evansville. On Feb. 21 Pope Benedict XVI presided over a consistory that gave final approv-al for Blessed Jeanne’s canonization on Oct. 11. Click for a larger version.
Father Robert Deig was telling people, “If you were here yesterday you would have seen the Little Sisters walking a foot off the ground because they were so happy.”
He’s a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville currently living at the Little Sisters of the Poor home in Evansville. The reason for their happiness was the Feb 21 announcement that their foundress, Jeanne Jugan, will be canonized on Oct. 11, 2009.
Mother Rose Marie Mayock, the superior in Evansville who quoted Father Deig, said of the foundress, “She deserves it. We’ve waited a long time for this day.”
She said Jeanne Jugan was known for her “humility and simplicity. She’s a model for all of us really.”
So far there are no plans for a celebration locally, “but after the canonization [perhaps] a Mass in the cathedral. We’ll ask the bishop if he will be kind enough to come.
“The residents will be a part of this because it’s for them that the work was founded.”
(Related Catholic News Service story: Little Sisters of the Poor 'thrilled' their founder will be canonized)