Teresa de Jesús Jornet: Founder of the Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados

Teresa de Jesús Jornet i Ibars (1843–1897) was a Catalan religious figure and the founder of the Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados (Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly). Born in Aytona, Lérida, she worked as a teacher before dedicating her life to caring for the elderly who lacked support.

After experiencing health issues that led her to leave a monastery in Briviesca, she was inspired by the work of Father Pedro Llacera in Barbastro. In 1872, she joined the initial group of aspirants to found the institute, eventually moving the foundation to Valencia, where she served as director general. The order was established to provide physical care and spiritual companionship to the elderly, addressing both their material needs and the issue of loneliness.

Teresa de Jesús Jornet was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1974. Her legacy continues through the residences established by her order across Spain, which remain significant in many rural areas.