Scottish Catholic Observer

The Little Sisters of the Poor order has announced that will be leaving Dundee next year. The sisters are making every effort to ensure continuity of care at the Wellburn Care Home, which they currently run, and are actively negotiating with potential new operators of the facility.

“It is with great sadness and regret that the Little Sisters of the Poor have decided that they will be leaving Dundee in 2015,” Sr Joseph, the provincial of the order, said.

“This has been a very painful decision for us, but due to a decrease in the number of vocations to the congregation and the age of the sisters, they now feel that they are unable to continue their mission here,” she said.

The Little Sisters have been in Dundee since 1863 and last year celebrated 150 years of service to the elderly in the city, in the footsteps of their foundress St Jeanne Jugan.

Bishop Stephen Robson of Dunkeld (above) said he was ‘saddened by the decision he understood ‘completely the challenges which the Sisters face and sympathise with the circumstances they find themselves in’.

“I have always had and continue to have the highest regard for the Little Sisters of the Poor and the work that they do,” the bishop said. “They have made an immeasurable contribution to the life of the City of Dundee over the past 150 years. I share their hope that the Wellburn Care Home will continue to providing much needed care to some of the most vulnerable elderly people in our community.”

“The sisters are immensely grateful for the support they have been given by the people of Dundee, Bishop Emeritus Vincent Logan, Bishop Stephen Robson, the priests and religious in the Diocese of Dunkeld and by the City Council and they are thankful to God for all that they received from their benefactors and friends,” Sr Joseph added. “Staff, residents and their families, the Jeanne Jugan association and friends and benefactors of Wellburn have been notified of the order’s decision.

—[email protected]