Mother General visits from France

Little Sisters of the Poor Mother General Maria del Monte Auxiliadora (right) and her assistant Sister Joseph Christine visit Brockville's Sacred Heart Home and Hospital yesterday.

Mother General Maria, originally from Spain, is head of congregation for the organisation and is based in France. She has been in the role for two years, and yesterday was her first visit to Dunedin.

Mother General Maria said she had been travelling the world visiting homes, and was now at one of the furthest from France.

She was keen to support and encourage the sisters and residents. She had ''loved'' her time in Dunedin, in particular the Scottish welcome and dancers who performed for her yesterday. She travels to Australia after New Zealand.

The Little Sisters of the Poor was founded in 1839 to care for the elderly.