By Donald Norton

The Third Annual “Sharing the Vision of St. Jeanne Jugan” dinner was held this past Saturday night at the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence.

A full house was present with just over 200 guests. A special guest of honor, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, gave the invocation.

The event has been held for the past three years to bring awareness to the vision of St. Jeanne Jugan, who was the founder of the order to help the elderly poor.

The Little Sisters have been in Somerville for many years and have opened their doors to many over that time who were poor and needed a home in their senior years.

Some local members of the facility’s Advisory Board attended the event, including Ward 3 Alderman Robert J. McWatters, Alderman at Large William A. White Jr., and former Ward 1 Alderman and current City of Somerville Personnel Director William Roche as Master of Ceremonies. Also serving on the Board and in attendance was former Mayor Gene Brune and local businessman Tom Bent, of Bent Electrical, Many others who serve on the Advisory Board also turned out for the occasion.

The event is not only held to raise money for the home, which is very important, but to also share the vision of the Little Sisters of the Poor founder St. Jeanne Jugan, and to recognize the dedication of all the staff and in particular all the sisters who work hard to make the facility a wonderful home.

The dinner was staffed and catered by the Somerville High School Culinary Arts Department.