October is a special time of the year for me. I retired from the Little Sisters of the Poor almost one year ago. They reserve the third Sunday of every October for their largest annual fundraising event. For the first time in a decade, I will attend as a guest, not as the chairman of the project. I hope you will support this mission. You won’t find a more deserving charity! To find out more, visit littlesistersofthepoormobile.org or their Facebook page.
I revisited a column I wrote about them a few years ago.
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Before I began driving for Uber, I faced a different career choice. I was working in the commercial real estate business in 2015, having overcome significant personal financial challenges. Anyone working in that business will know that it sometimes takes a little while to build a clientele and start earning a living. While I was beginning to taste success, I needed something steadier. My wife concurred (well, insisted!)
Our friend told my wife about an opening for Development Director at the Little Sisters of the Poor. Ironically, I had run across an old newspaper clipping from the early 1970s in a desk drawer. The picture included me and the Mother Superior at the Little Sisters of the Poor. I was president of the St. Dominic CYO and presented a check from a spaghetti dinner we held to support the building fund.
That picture provided a message to me. While I had raised funds for several organizations as a volunteer, no one ever paid me to do that. The idea intrigued me. I put together a resume and added a copy of the clipping. I might not have raised more money than my competitors, but I had evidence that I had achieved it over a more extended period.
When Mother Mary Sylvia called me back for a second interview, she said, “There’s more to that picture than you know.”
She continued, “I showed the clipping to the other Sisters, and one of them said, ‘That’s my mother!’ Sister Mary Frances’ mother became a Little Sister when she was a widow.”
The message was clear. I started at Sacred Heart Residence in July. At least a few bricks were there because of our spaghetti dinner in 1972. I had no idea how much this new venture would affect my life.
I grew up in Catholic schools, so I was used to nuns. My parents were close friends with the Sisters who taught us at St. Dominic. (I believe this was strategic so they could keep tabs on us. Advantages and obvious disadvantages!)
Nevertheless, it took me a few months to get to know the personalities of each Little Sister. I recall a conversation I had with Mother Mary Sylvia about the differences.
“It’s as though all of you are individual people!” I said. “I think many people assume all of you come out of the same mold.”
Mother laughed and said, “A lot of people make that assumption, but we’re just people. You ought to try living with nine other women!”
My name tag included a tagline. “Making Our Residents Happy Since 2015.” I hope that’s true. The people here have certainly made me happy.
My next boss, Mother Judith Meredith, was on her second tour as the Administrator of Sacred Heart Residence in Mobile. Back in 2018, she celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Little Sister of the Poor. That’s fifty years of being a part of the lives of thousands of elderly Residents.
I’ve often written about meeting so many people from all over the globe while driving for Uber. The pleasure of getting to know the Little Sisters, Residents, fellow employees, and the thousands of volunteers and contributors has been a blessing. The wisdom I’ve received from our elderly has had a profoundly positive impact on my conversations with my riders.
The Little Sisters in Mobile, and throughout the world, owe their mission to a French woman, Jeanne Jugan, who began helping the elderly poor in 1839. She took in an elderly blind lady in Saint-Servan, France, which started a worldwide movement.
In the times in which we live, a lifetime commitment to any vocation is rare. These women take years of discernment and preparation before becoming a Little Sister. Their mission is to provide comfort and happiness in the final years of older people’s lives. More than a hundred Residents have passed away since I came here almost nine years ago. The Little Sisters were at their bedside until the very end.
As Development Director at the Little Sisters, one of my responsibilities was to write and edit the quarterly newsletter. I got to delve a little deeper into our Residents’ life stories. Their insights and wisdom continue to inspire me.
A few years ago, our longest Resident, Sarah Wilder, passed away at the age of 108. I remember the first time I met her. She came into my office, introduced herself, and told me she was 100.
When I asked her the secret to her longevity, she told me, “It’s three things. First, you have to be a good person. Next, you have to live a good life. Finally, you have to eat a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!” Then she laughed. For the record, I love PB&Js. I’m still working on the other two.
I don’t have space to describe all the stories I’ve listened to over the years. We’ve had former nuns, priests, school principals, business leaders, grandparents and great-grandparents, veterans, and people from all walks of life. Their reasons for being here vary, but their gratitude is evident.
I strayed from the usual Uber rider stories this week. I plan to write a book about my time at the Little Sisters someday. Maybe then I can tell you about the extraordinary commitment I saw from my fellow employees, thousands of volunteers, and our donors.
There is so much more to our world than I ever imagined.
I am grateful.
God Bless,
Tommy
P.S. – Thank you for supporting my book! If you are looking for a great Thanksgiving gift or are ready to start collecting Christmas presents, visit tommyfulton.com for more information.