OREGON—The Little Sisters of the Poor celebrated the closing ceremony of their 125th anniversary year Feb. 3.

The event was an intimate gathering of the closest friends and benefactors of the Little Sisters over the years. Liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Leonard P. Blair and concelebrated by a number of diocesan priests.

Bishop Leonard P. Blair, assisted by Msgr. Michael Billian, blesses an area of the Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Home that is to be renovated. The blessing was part of the celebrations closing the sisters’ 125th anniversary year. (Photo courtesy of the Little Sisters of the Poor)

After the liturgy, all guests were led in a procession to the second floor hallway to an area taped off by caution and construction signs. The bishop proceeded to bless the area, which would be renovated into a future nursing bed room.

This area is part of a project undertaken by the Little Sisters of the Poor to expand the number of fully-skilled nursing beds from 25 to 47, leaving six assisted living rooms and 20 independent living apartments.

In his blessing of the renovation areas the bishop mentioned the special care received by all residents from the Little Sisters and the warmth and love they extend to all the elderly poor.

The event concluded with a social and dinner, where residents of the Sacred Heart Home mingled with the guests.

“The mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor to care for the elderly poor is not one we can accomplish on our own,” Little Sister of the Poor Cecilia Mary Sartorius, local superior, said in her closing remarks. “We could never have dreamed of accomplishing our bed licensing program and the expansion of our home without the support of you good people. Going forward, we have deliberately chosen the theme of ‘Faith — Friends — Family’ for our 126th year here in 2011.

“We believe that it is through our abiding faith in Divine Providence that we as Little Sisters are able to continue our work each day,” she said. “We know that this faith is strengthened and renewed by our friends — those supporters of the home who engage and help us with our mission. Together as friends in faith we belong to the family of the Sacred Heart Home.”