Nun withdrawal

THE CONGREGATION of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have announced in a letter sent to Villajoyosa council, the ending of the vocational service provided by their nuns at the Santa Marta residential and care home.

They highlighted ‘the difficulties in continuing’ with the work they have been carrying out for more than 100 years.

The ‘shortage of novitiates and the advanced age of the sisters are the circumstances that prevent them from carrying out the mission entrusted to them by the Church’ – and they have given three months’ notice. The letter also states that ‘it has not been an easy decision to take', as they have been there since 1892.

They express their ‘gratitude for the attention given by Villajoyosa council, especially during the coronavirus pandemic that affected everyone, both the elderly and the community’. This issue was to be discussed at the governing council of the Santa Marta residential home next Friday.

However, in view of information hitting social media which blamed the council, mayor Andreu Verdú called an emergency meeting with the councillor for social services, Asun Lloret and councillors from the local government team, Pedro Alemany and Isabel Perona, at the facilities of the Santa Marta home to immediately address the situation.

They are working to find a solution to provide the care service required for the home’s elderly residents.

Mayor Verdú said: “The announcement received this week informs of the cessation within three months, which gives us a margin of time to address this decision."

They are working to find an alternative in the event the four sisters leave the home.

“We are having an urgent meeting with the mother general of the congregation to analyse possible proposals to keep the activity at the nursing home viable,” he noted.