The mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Minnesota began in 1883 when Bishops Thomas Grace and John Ireland petitioned the motherhouse in France to send six Little Sisters to come to St. Paul to work to establish a Home for the needy elderly.

Two buildings on Wilkin Street, formerly owned by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, were purchased through the Cathedral Parish. The larger of the two buildings was originally the Baldwin School built in 1856.

Within months of their arrival the Little Sisters were caring for 20 Residents and supporting the Home by begging for contributions of food and clothing, sometimes traveling by horse and wagon for a day or a week at a time. Many of the Home’s Residents were immigrants who often arrived with no more that the clothes on their backs.

In 1889 a larger Home was needed to accommodate the increasing number of elderly poor. The original building was demolished to make way for a new Home to welcome 200 elderly.

A second Home was established in Northeast Minneapolis in the late 1880’s.

In 1977 the two Homes were consolidated and the current facility at 330 Exchange Street South was constructed to comply with the advancement in health care needs and regulations.

In the years after 1900, the work of the Little Sisters in Minnesota grew and the community was generous in its support.

The Sisters went out on their rounds and received regular contributions from businesses and households.

It is touching to note that during the Great Depression of the 1930’s the people of the Twin Cities never faltered in their generous support of the Little Sisters. According to the Sisters records, more beds were bought to accommodate the swelling numbers of poor and homeless and there were lines of poor and hungry who came to the door daily for a bowl of soup.

The Little Sisters of the Poor have endured many changes during the last century. From the small beginnings back in1883 right up to the present day, we have never wavered in our desire to humbly and joyfully live the charism of our foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan, who said: “Never forget that the poor are Our Lord.”

Very worthy of note are the numerous religious vocations to the Little Sisters from the Twin Cities and we are proud to be a part of its great history.

For more information about Saint Jeanne Jugan and the Little Sisters of the Poor, click here.

The Little Sisters of the Poor are an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan. The Little Sisters of the Poor serve the elderly poor in over 30 countries around the world with a diverse network of collaborators.

The Little Sisters of the Poor are continuing the work of Saint Jeanne Jugan, our foundress.

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.

The VISION of the Little Sisters of the Poor is to contribute to the Culture of Life by nurturing communities where each person is valued, the solidarity of the human family and the wisdom of age are celebrated, and the compassionate love of Christ is shared with all.

The VALUES of the Little Sisters include:

• REVERENCE for the sacredness of human life and for the uniqueness of each person, especially those who are poorest and/or weakest. The commitment to reverence is reflected in care that is holistic and person-centered.
• FAMILY SPIRIT offering joyful hospitality embracing all with open arms, hearts and minds; fostering participation in the life of the Home and rejecting all forms of discrimination.
• HUMBLE SERVICE to raise others up and to put their needs before our own; an appreciation of simple, everyday tasks and experiences and humble means of accomplishing our work.
• COMPASSION for sharing the weaknesses and sufferings of others; eagerness to relieve pain in all its forms and to make the elderly happy.
• STEWARDSHIP that recognizes that life and all other goods are gifts from God and should be used responsibly for the good of all; trust in God’s Providence and the generosity of others to provide for our needs; just compensation for our collaborators; a spirit of gratitude and sharing.

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.

• We welcome low-income elderly persons of at least 65 years of age regardless of race or religion.

• The atmosphere of our Home is friendly and home-like.

• We strive to provide the best level of medical care possible, but we go beyond that to minister to our Residents emotionally and spiritually, making them happy and communicating to them the tenderness and mercy of God.

• We encourage an active lifestyle through meaningful activities, a lively pastoral program, and opportunities for volunteering.

• We adhere to all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, especially those concerning the sanctity of human life.

• We reject all forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide and protect our Residents from these practices as well as from all forms of abuse and neglect.

• The compassionate care and accompaniment of the dying is the summit of our ministry. At Sacred Heart Residence, it is our goal that no one dies alone.

• We welcome the collaboration of many dedicated staff members, volunteers and benefactors, who are the extended hands and hearts of the Little Sisters.

For more information on the philosophy of the Little Sisters of the Poor, click here.

The Little Sisters have maintained the begging tradition of our foundress Saint Jeanne Jugan, relying on the charity of those in our local communities.

Just as St. Jeanne Jugan walked the roads of France experiencing everyday miracles, the collecting continues to be at the heart of our charism and worldwide mission today. It’s a living tradition that sustains our mission and proves that miracles of Providence still happen!

Our begging Little Sister is no longer known by her begging basket, but by our “begging van.” The Begging Sister and her helpers go out daily to markets, places of business, farms and nurseries seeking food and commodities to offset operating expenses.

Little Sisters can also be found on weekends at Catholic parishes asking for both financial and spiritual assistance and seeking to build friendships and support for the day-to-day activities of our Home.

At the parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, we say a few words about our work and mission and encourage vocations. A collection of free-will offerings helps sustain the needs of our Holy Family Residence. The faithful of our Archdiocese are the true stewards of the mission and vision of St. Jeanne.

The Little Sisters rely heavily on the Begging Sister to bring in much needed items. The Little Sisters also reach out to the local communities requesting donations of both time and funds that support the mission of serving the elderly poor.

Other ways of helping include:

• Gifts-in-kind are greatly appreciated! Click here for a list of much needed items (pdf).
• Support us by participating in our fund raising events. Click here to visit our upcoming events.
• Introduce us to new community resources in the Twin Cities. Give others the privilege of caring for our elder brothers and sisters through their charity and service.
• Click here to access our donation page to view other ways of supporting the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Contact us at clstpaul@littlesistersofthepoor.org or call 651-303-0938