Sr Francis was delighted to hear of the forthcoming tandem parachute jump in which 6 priests and 6 lay people will be jumping from 13,000 ft to raise much needed funds for the sick, infirm and elderly priests of the diocese.
She said: ‘I think the young priests and members of your staff are so brave to be taking on such a challenge. I know for sure that I couldn’t do it! We are grateful that you are bringing the care and welfare of our sick, infirm and elderly priests to the attention of the Catholic community in this way. These men dedicate their lives to the church and we are called to take care of them, often when they cannot take care of themselves.’
Sr Francis explains that there are 37 residents who live in the nursing home itself at the moment. Twelve elderly people live in independent living flats. St Joseph’s is registered for 12 nursing beds which allows them to nurse and care for their residents until the end of their lives.
Sr Francis qualified as a nurse in 1972 and trained at the famous St James Hospital in Leeds. She says of her voation: ‘My vocation is to care for the elderly. For me it was a call from God to serve him and that the best way for me to do this was as a Little Sister of the Poor. I am very happy and fulfilled in my vocation.’
She explains what is required when taking care of an elderly priest: ‘Taking care of our priest residents requires tact and sensitivity. They have been men living on their own and living independent lives. They find themselves unable to do many of the things they did before. But we try to keep them in their ministry as far as they are able. If they can they concelebrate Mass with the chaplain Fr Dennis O’Connor. It can be very hard for them to accept people helping them but I have to say that they are an invaluable help to us here when the residents are sick or in need. We can call upon them to give the Sacrament of the Sick or just to be a listening ear. When residents are dying the priests are so good and they come in and prayer with them. Priests get old though and they get ill. I think Catholic Today is doing a terrific job in bringing this very important fact to people’s attention because the priest is not here for ever and he’s not always going to be healthy, young and strong. He will become old and frail just like everybody else and then will need to be cared for. This is where St Joseph’s comes in and to be honest it has been a privilege to care for many of our sick and elderly priests to the end of their lives. We are very clear here at St Joseph’s that we are all working for the same thing - the good and happiness of the residents. We are not just looking after them we are caring for them.
Facts and Information about the Little Sisters of the Poor
- Their foundress was Jeanne Jugan, a humble and remarkable woman whose compassion and charity provided a shelter for the elderly poor in France in 1839.
- The Little Sisters of the Poor came to England in 1851.
- In 1864 several Little Sisters came to Birmingham to establish the new Home in the Crescent which was situated in the area where the Convention Centre now stands.
- In 1874 they moved to the present site in Harborne.
- St Joseph’s Home is a modernised Residential and Nursing Home equipped with lifts; offering easy access for wheelchairs from all external doors. The pleasant garden can be viewed from thirty-eight en suite bedrooms twelve of which provide nursing care.
- The Little Sisters of the Poor have nursing homes for the elderly in 31 countries on five continents.
- The Little Sisters of the Poor welcome into their homes the elderly of low or modest income, of any race, creed or nationality, receiving and caring for them as members of their own family.
- Their vocation is to care for the elderly and to this end they work to create for their residents a loving and caring environment that allows them to live with dignity and independence, feeling needed and useful.
- It has just been announced that Jeanne Jugan is to be canonised on October 11th this year.
