The history of the Little  Company of Mary mission to Albania had its origins in an invitation from the  papal nuncio to work towards developing health care in Korce, southern Albania.

In 1993, three sisters of the  English province, Sisters Aiden, Sheila and Anita became the first community of  the Little Company of Mary to be established in Albania.

Lacking a developed infrastructure after  years of isolation, Albania struggles towards developing stable government and  the establishment of a market economy. It also struggles to provide the  necessary services to maintain its population in the provision of services we in  the west take so much for granted. 

The town of Korce  with an  urban population of app. 80,000, suffers along with the rest of the country.  Erratic water and power supplies make basic living difficult. Hospitals and  clinics lack basic medical equipment and drugs to treat patients. 

For all that it lacks in  basic necessities, Albania is a beautiful country, and its people are warm and  welcoming, with strong family values.

In 1996, a small clinic and convent were opened. Built with funding from abroad, the clinic was designed by a young  Albanian architect. In March 1997, however, Albania was again plunged into  anarchy, violence and despair. Men, women and children were killed and wounded.  Hospitals, schools clinics and orphanages were destroyed. Among the casualties  was the Mary Potter clinic, opened six months before. 

The arrival of the sisters drew  the sick, who came looking for help. Mother came with sick malnourished  children, and children with burns. Many children are burned due to the confined  and overcrowded living conditions and a stove which traditionally sits in the  middle of the room where the cooking is done. With the help of volunteers and  fundraising from England and Malta, a small clinic and pharmacy were established  to meet the needs of the poor, sick and the suffering.

Care of the dying in their own homes  began when a young woman came to the sisters telling them that her sister was  very ill. When the Sisters visited, they saw the young woman dying of cancer  without any medical supplies. The family were too poor to pay for treatment,  and there were no resources available to what are called the "hopeless cases".  Those who are dying, or those who have terminal or chronic illnesses simply  become the responsibility of the family. 

Forced out of Albania, in the Easter  of 1996, the sisters returned the following December. Since that time, they have  continued to care for the terminally ill in their homes in the towns and  surrounding villages, helping the families to care for the dying, and offering  facilities which help their loved ones die with dignity, knowing they are loved.

The sisters also  work in the State School of Nursing, helping with nurse training. They now run a  small clinic, where they care for sick children, especially those with  burns.

Assisted by Albanian  nurses, the small community of three ministers to those in need. During the  crisis in Kosovar, the community cared for the refugees in Korce,  and with aid  from England, renovated the clinic which housed 100 refugees with disabilities  and illness.