The Little Sisters of the Poor arrived in San Francisco in March 1901, taking up temporary residence at 2030 Howard Street.

By 1902, ten Little Sisters lived on Howard Street and as the Home began to fill with Residents, the Little Sisters realized they needed to find a larger permanent location.

Edward Joseph LeBreton, one of San Francisco’s most successful businessmen of the early 1900’s, took an active interest in the Little Sisters’ work on Howard Street and told the Little Sisters, “It is for God that I am giving. I will give you the home – complete – regardless of the cost.”

Le Breton placed only two conditions on his gift. The inscription, “In Honor of My Father and Mother,” was to be placed over the door of the new Home. And in recognition of his devotion to the mother of Mary, he hoped that St. Anne could be the patron of the new Home.

On May 15, 1904, the doors at St. Anne’s Home on Lake Street opened to greet its first 121 Residents.

In 1977 St. Anne’s Home was declared unsafe in the event of a fire or earthquake.

Thanks to the kindness of many benefactors and volunteers, groundbreaking for the construction of a new Home took place on April 25, 1979.

The memory of the old home built by LeBreton is kept alive by the bell named for his mother as well as the cupola of the old building, both centrally situated on the front grounds of the Home. The caption in memory of LeBreton’s parents now sits prominently in the garden alongside the grotto.

The important work at St. Anne’s Home continues to depend on benefactors, volunteers and friends as well as the staff members who partner with the Little Sisters in contributing to the happiness and well-being of their elderly brothers and sisters.

Because of their goodness to the poor, these generous individuals will be greatly blessed.

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 problem of poverty among the elderly is no less real today than it was in 1839, when our community was founded.

In addition to material poverty, many older persons suffer from a lack of human and spiritual support.

Our approach to care considers the “whole person,” attending to their physical and medical needs as well as their emotional, spiritual and social life.

Each person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, even if they are in a state of physical or mental decline. We approach our work with the belief that old age is not an illness – it is a stage of life.

Just as Saint Jeanne Jugan did, we rely on God’s Providence – manifested through the generosity of good people in the community – for the survival of our mission.

To provide for the needs of the aged poor, our foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan, walked the roads of France seeking alms. She asked for money but also for gifts in kind: food, clothing, wood or whatever was needed to continue her care of the elderly.

This tradition of relying on the charity of those in the community continues today.

Our two “begging Sisters,” as they are known around the Home, start their day of collecting at 7:30 each morning.

They head out in their donated van, equipped with full refrigeration, to visit their designated donors.

It could be the produce market one day, a meat market, a bakery, a creamery or even your local supermarket the next day.

We rely greatly on the generosity of those who support our mission of caring as we must raise a significant percentage of our annual operating costs.

The begging Sisters leave each morning not knowing if they will be greeted with a generous heart or even a friendly smile but knowing that regardless of their success or lack thereof, there are 86 Residents in need of food, shelter and care.

When asked about the difficulty of this task, Sr. Agnes explains that she and Sr. John Elise are motivated by the goodness in people and the presence of God in those they encounter daily.

“It is very rewarding to see someone ‘soften’ over time and be genuinely happy to see us, whether they can donate or not. They understand that we are grateful for even one cent. Our donors have become our friends and our partners. We leave every morning with a joyful heart and return with gratitude for anything in the van,” she says.

“If you like, we could share the poor today. You will provide for their food and I shall take care of them.”

– St. Jeanne Jugan