Here at Villa Guadalupe, the Little Sisters of the Poor welcome over 50 Native Americans, Hispanics and people of various backgrounds into our Home, which is located in the southwest area of our country with its vista of high desert and red rock mountains.
Why is Villa Guadalupe Unique?
Love is the key to the care of the aged at Villa Guadalupe. All of our services are designed around creating a home-like atmosphere to give our Residents the care they need.
The experience of almost 180 years of care has given the Little Sisters the knowledge and intuition of the concerns and needs of the elderly poor: security, loving care, esteem and the desire to feel useful.
Villa Guadalupe offers two levels of care:
- Independent Living Apartments
- Assisted Living with aging in place
Villa Guadalupe has a busy activities program which includes Native arts and crafts, daily exercises, outings and many opportunities for recreation and socializing.
The History of Our Work in New Mexico
The Little Sisters of the Poor first came to the Diocese of Gallup on Dec. 11, 1983, the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Concern for the many needy elderly in the area inspired Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich to ask the Little Sisters of the Poor to open a Home for the aged in his diocese.
Happy to respond to this need, the Little Sisters welcomed their first Resident to a temporary Home in a former church building on Mark Avenue in January 1984.
Little by little, their “family” grew, as more elderly persons joined them at Villa Guadalupe.
A new, more spacious home, which accommodated 39 Residents was completed in the spring of 1989 and dedicated the following Dec. 12.
Almost half of the Residents the Little Sisters care for are Native American.
In 2000, 12 independent living apartments were added to the Home.
Our benefactors have come to our aid time and again to help us care for the elderly poor.
Meet Members of Our Family
Katherine came to Villa Guadalupe when she was 92. She celebrated her 100th birthday on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19. She created beautiful rugs and honored her culture with the skills passed on by her mom and the talents given to her by God. Katherine has also ‘woven her way’ into the hearts of the family of Villa Guadalupe.
– Katherine Tso, Resident
I have been employed with Little Sisters of the Poor since 2015. Isaiah 46:4 reads, “And I will still be carrying you when you are old. Your hair will turn gray, and I will carry you to safety.” Being the hands and feet for JESUS to use me and to help the aging elderly find strength in the fact that even in old age, GOD is there. I am truly blessed to be working at Little Sisters of the Poor to advocate and to be on a mission together to care for the aging elderly.
– Sharon Yazzie – Social Service Designee
“A great joy for me to be back here for the 4th time and to find some of the same Residents each time but most of all the same simplicity and many of the same needs, “JOY, JOY, JOY!” I am grateful to God for giving me again the privilege to serve his Elderly children in dear Gallup in whatever I am able and more thankful for the upcoming 40th Anniversary of Villa Guadalupe in December 12th this year. Blessed be God.”
– Sr. Paul
“I like living with the Little Sisters because it is so happy, so comfortable, and so spiritual. You feel taken care of and that is beautiful. We are a community and we look out for each other. As soon as you walk in the door, the first thing you feel is love.”
– Vicki, Resident
“I have been working for Little Sisters of the Poor in the laundry since 1997. I love working to keep the Residents looking clean and well-dressed. The spirit of Saint Jeanne Jugan is such an inspiration for me. I only wish I could perform like she did.”
– Lucille Smith, Laundry
Mission, Vision and Values
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.
Philosophy of Loving Care
The Little Sisters of the Poor care for the elderly poor in the spirit of humble service we have received from our foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan.
The Little Sisters welcome the elderly as we would Jesus Christ himself and serve them with love and respect until God calls them home.
- Respect for the Uniqueness of Each Resident
The Little Sisters are committed to promoting the dignity of life of each of our Residents. This means being attentive to each person in his or her uniqueness and making an effort to know each Resident as a whole person – body, mind and spirit.
- Fostering a Home Away from Home
The Little Sisters strive to maintain attractive and clean surroundings and allow Residents to decorate their rooms in their own personal style. We promote a calm and welcoming atmosphere as well as a balance between stability in daily routines and flexibility so Residents feel comfortable.
- Providing Meaningful Activities
The Little Sisters believe that giving the Residents the opportunity to participate in recreational and social activities and by taking responsibility for certain daily tasks – no matter how small – fosters the feeling of belonging and being useful and involved.
- Encouraging Pastoral Care
The Little Sisters desire to assist the elderly to live old age as a time of peace and to assume the sufferings of old age from the perspective of their personal faith. If needed, we can help Residents reconcile past hurts and disappointments and prepare spiritually and psychologically for death.
- Accompanying the Dying
The Little Sisters continue our tradition of assuring a constant presence to those who have entered the dying process. Accompanying a Resident on his or her final journey is the greatest expression of hospitality mission and the most sacred aspect of our work.
Tradition of Begging … the Gifts of Providence
Saint Jeanne Jugan traveled the roads of France on foot seeking alms to provide for the needs of the aged poor. She was recognized by the begging basket she carried. Knocking on doors, she asked for money, but also for gifts in kind – food, clothing, wood, wool or whatever was needed for the Home.
The tradition of relying on the charity of those in the community continues today by the Little Sisters. Our benefactors and friends are the instruments through which God sustains our work.
Today’s “collecting” Little Sisters are often known by their “begging van.” Little Sisters go daily to the markets and places of business seeking food and commodities to offset operating expenses.
Little Sisters also appeal in Catholic parishes to build friendships. For those who do know us, visiting the various parishes deepens the friendships we have already forged and gives the faithful an opportunity to share in our mission.
If you wish to be a part of our ongoing collections, email us at clgallup@littlesistersofthepoor.org or call (505) 863-6894. We would be happy to further introduce you to our mission and the many ways you can share in it.
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