|
October 23, 2011
If an icon is described as a place where heaven comes to earth, then that is exactly what happened at the parish of Saints John and Paul in Larchmont, New York last Sunday. Msgr. Thomas Petrillo, pastor and a friend of the Little Sisters for many years, had commissioned an icon of St. Jeanne Jugan to be installed in his church in conjunction with a new parish initiative, Family Jeanne Jugan. Three families will share in helping an elderly person of the parish who lives alone. This might involve rides to church, to the stores, accompanying to doctors’ appointments and other needs that he or she might have.
 Explanation of the Icon
In the winter of 1839, Jeanne Jugan carried an elderly, blind woman from the cold streets of Brittany to the warmth of her own home, where she gave the woman her own bed and promised to care for her. With that singular gesture of love, Jeanne began an apostolate of welcoming and caring for the elderly poor. That profound act of love gave birth to the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. In 1868, the “work” which began in France spread across the Atlantic Ocean with the establishment of the first Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Brooklyn.
The Icon of Saint Jeanne Jugan and Elders places the Saint with her arms extended, welcoming two older persons—a woman of Brittany, France and a man of Brooklyn, New York. While the Saint opens her arms to receive two elders, such a horizontal extension reminds the viewer of the Crucified Christ. Her mission to the elderly is an expression of total self-giving, sacrifice in union with the Cross of her Savior. There is also a repetition of triangular movement in the icon, suggesting the power of Trinitarian Love, seen in the mantle worn by the Saint and in the position of the heads of each of the subjects.
The elders, at one time poor, now find in St. Jeanne Jugan an expression of that Love which enriches them in every way. While holding the quote of Hebrews 12:2, both elderly persons fix their gaze on the Saint and it is Jesus Himself whom they see. By virtue of her baptism and her religious consecration, the Saint stands in the place of Christ who came not to be served but to serve (Mt. 20:28). Together they form a new Community of Love, attending one to the other.
Dedication of the Icon
When we arrived at the church well in advance of the 5 p.m. Mass, it was already filling with parishioners. We joined Residents, Little Sisters and novices from the Bronx, Enfield, Totowa and the novitiate. Our eyes were drawn immediately to the life sized icon of St. Jeanne Jugan, the 14th written by George and Sergio Pinecross. The niche in which the icon is placed matches the trim surrounding the windows of the church and it is located in the back of the right side of the church. It seems as though the place had simply been waiting for St Jeanne Jugan and her elderly to arrive!
The choir and musicians (pianist, saxophonist and drummer) filled the time before Mass with beautiful music and song. The parish choir, French choir and children’s choir lead the singing in English and French. There are a significant number of French parishioners in Larchmont and Msgr. Petrillo told us that there are thirty-one French children enrolled in the elementary school. While we were not familiar with the songs chosen for the liturgy, we were caught up in the dynamic prayer of these fervent worshippers and found ourselves singing as well!
 The solemn entrance was composed of the 12 priest concelebrants and Msgr. Petrillo as main celebrant, and seven Little Sisters carrying white candles. The blessing of the icon with holy water and incense took place before the Gloria. As the priests and the seven Little Sisters, now with their candles lighted from the Paschal candle, processed to the back of the church, two young girls read a short biography of St. Jeanne Jugan. It was striking because it was written in the first person (“I am Jeanne Jugan . . .”) and one girl read in English while the other repeated the reading in French. The Little Sisters stood on either side of the icon as Monsignor blessed it and prayed for St. Jeanne Jugan’s intercession for his parish. It was significant that this event took place on Mission Sunday and the Little Sisters present reflected the internationality of the Congregation.
The Mass continued and a Little Sister and a young woman served as lectors. The responsorial psalm was original composition by the music minister and the pianist. They chose the words of Jeanne Jugan as the refrain: “Now I see only God, only God I see.” Monsignor’s homily was a beautiful tribute to our Mother’s life and spirit from someone who knows her, loves her and has had the experience of having his father and mother in our homes. His mother, Josephine Petrillo, lives in the apartments at our home in the Bronx. Accompanied by a Little Sister, Mrs. Petrillo carried the gifts to the altar as the choir sang “L’Amour Jamais Ne Passera” (Love Never Ends).
The children’s choir sang the communion meditation hymn which include a solo in French by a little girl of about 8 years of age. All sense of time was lost during this lively but prayerful liturgy and soon we found ourselves singing the recessional, “Tell the Nations that the Lord is Good,” a perfect conclusion to Mission Sunday.
After Mass we were invited to the auditorium for refreshments and it was an opportunity to meet some of the parishioners. French could be heard spoken in many of the groups and we listened in awe as little children effortlessly changed from French to English! We explained to the parents that it was difficult for us to speak to the children in French because most of us do not know how to tutoyer! There was a spirit of family that marked this event that surely pleased the heart of Jeanne Jugan. We pray that she will watch over the Family Jeanne Jugan and that this initiative may be blessed for the glory of God and the good of the elderly.
This original icon, completed in October 2011, is the work of George and Sergio Pinecross. Photography of the icon by Mr. Ed Pedi.
|
