with Sr. Dara Catherine of the Little Sisters of the Poor

Sr. Dara Catherine

Sr. Dara Catherine is a Little Sister of the Poor currently serving at Mullen Home in Denver. Before entering she attended Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, and upon obtaining a degree in Psychology she joined her religious community that next fall. She has spent the past 10 years in ministry to the elderly poor.  From 2012 to 2015 she lived in France, which was a great grace to be immersed in another culture, but also eye-opening in learning of the challenges that building a culture of life is faced with in many European countries. Her passion is the beauty of the elderly and bearing witness to their wisdom, their lived experience, their confidence and patience in the face of adversities. Her desire to help others see these jewels in our society who unfortunately are often pushed aside and given no voice is what brings her to speak on October 19th.

The Little Sisters of the Poor

The Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor is an international apostolic religious Institute of pontifical right. The foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan, was born during the French Revolution. A childhood spent in poverty, as a young woman she left home to work in a local hospital. For many years she lived in a small apartment and led a quiet life of piety and good works. Then one night in the winter of 1839 she could not resist the sight of a blind, paralyzed old woman out in the cold with no one to care for her. Jeanne carried the old woman home and placed her in her own bed. From that night on, Jeanne Jugan gave her life to God and to the elderly of the whole world!

The work developed quickly. More old women were brought to her doorstep. A group of young women came to help Jeanne; together they cared for the elderly as if they were their own grandmothers. Giving the best place to the old women, they slept on the attic floor. The little group of pious women began to take the form of a religious community, calling themselves the Servants of the Poor.  In 1844 the group changed their name to Sisters of the Poor to better reflect their desire to be sisters to the elderly in the Lord’s name. In 1849 the popular name Little Sisters of the Poor was definitively adopted.

Now 175 years later they are an international Congregation with Homes in 31 countries. No matter what continent, their sole mission is to provide a home and the best holistic care for the elderly poor. Welcoming them as Christ himself, taking them in as their own family, the Little Sisters consider it their joy and the greatest honor to share their lives with them, accompanying them until God calls each one Home. They hold as sacred the tradition to never leave a dying Resident alone, but to keep a constant comforting presence in there last moments. Here in the U.S. they have apartments, assisted living and long-term nursing care all under the same roof in order to meet each Resident according to his or her needs.

Map and Directions

Morgan Library Parking Lot from Shields Street: Take Shields street to Pitkin. Go East on Pitkin St. Turn left on Meridian Ave. Turn right on South Drive into the Morgan Library Parking Lot. Clark A 101 is the building directly east of Morgan Library.

Lory Student Center Parking Lot from Shield Street: Take Shields to Laurel St. Go East on Laurel St. Turn right on Meldrum St. into the Lory Student Center Parking lot. Clark A 101 is located south of the Lory Student center just east of the Morgan Library.

Lory Student Center Parking from Lot College Avenue: Take College to Laurel St. Go west on Laurel St. Turn left on Meldrum St. into the Lory Student Center Parking lot. Clark A 101 is located south of the Lory Student center just east of the Morgan Library.

Parking in both lots is free after 4pm.