PICCOLE SUORE DEI POVERI. - Giovanna Jugan (b. at Cancale in France in 1792, d. in 1879) at the beginning of 1839 took into her modest home at St-Servan an elderly blind woman, to whom she gave attention and care. To this woman another was added, and on 15 Oct. 1840 Giovanna was joined by some pious persons who assisted her in this work of charity. On 1 Oct. 1841 she took another house, and the elderly women were thus able to increase to six; to support them Giovanna begged from door to door. Soon the refuge was also opened to men.
Thus was born the Congregation of the Serve dei Poveri, which in 1844 changed its name to Sorelle dei Poveri, and in 1849 assumed its present name of Piccole Suore dei Poveri. In 1846 shelters were opened at Rennes, Dinan, and in other cities of France, which by 1851 had grown to 15 with 1,500 residents. In February 1854 a decree of praise came from the Holy See. Foundations multiplied in France, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. At the death of the foundress (1879) the Congregation numbered 177 houses with 2,488 sisters and 20,500 residents. Today there are 314 houses, 5,700 sisters, and over 60,000 residents. Final approval was granted on 1 March 1879.