The 40-year-old, like the rest of the sisters at the St Vinko Paulski Kindergarten in the Croatian capital Zagreb skates up and down the corridors and says she has never felt more close to the kids that she cares for.

"Interest in our kindergarten has exploded since the news got out that we skate around. Kids are begging their parents to come here and parents are pretty keen on the idea as well.

"We didn't do it though just to get really popular or have more students it was actually something that just happened," she explains.

"The idea came after we decided to organise a sports day event for the kids in the kindergarten. We agreed that it would be a good thing if all the sisters tried to do some of the things that the children did - it would be a way of getting closer to them and bonding with them.

"So it ended up that all the nuns learnt to roller skate and it has just stuck since then.

"The kids taught some of the sisters but there were others here who had been keen roller skaters from before the time they took their vows.

"Everyone loved it - the kids, the sisters - and we really felt like we had got closer to the children. Some of the sisters like the 32-year-old Bernardica Novoselec have been roller-skaters even before they've entered the monastery, but some of them never even tried it before. 43-year-old sister Kresimira Kataric had wanted to learn how to roller-skate since childhood, but never had the chance. Then she came here and her dream came true. She is a very happy woman.

"It was fun for the kids to see the nuns learning to roller skate together with them. And it was just as fun for us.

"The kids still love it as well of course. When we first did it the kids were really excited. They would burst into smiles every time they saw a nun come soaring down the corridors on a pair of skates. The novelty doesn't seem to have worn off either. Every new child that comes to us is absolutely amazed. I suppose it is not every day they get to see a Sister skating around the place. For a little child it is a massive source of fun and it helps them relax while they are here.

"That was part of our aim - we're only interested in making the kids happy. If they are happy they will do better here. Once a child manages to relax, and we can see that they seem to be when they see us skating, they learn more as they take things in more easily.

"Coming to a school must be a bit daunting for a child, especially when they first arrive, and this kind of thing gives them a bit of a distraction. I think in some ways it might even make the sisters a little bit more relaxed, which in turn helps them get things across to kids more easily.

"The only complaint some of the children have had is that it's only us nuns going around on skates. They want to be able to skate themselves. But that would be impossible - imagine all those kids on skates everywhere, there would be chaos, not to mention injuries.

"It's not all been completely plain sailing. We have had some, er, accidents along the way. One day Sister Mateja broke her leg and we had a few other people who fell. But like Sister Mateja everyone has just put it behind them and they keep on skating."

Sister Kutleska who is in charge of the kindergarten said she hoped though that the spreading fame of the roller skating sisters would not overshadow the work they were doing at the kindergarten.

"The most important thing for us is the kids and what they get out of coming here. Rollers skating nuns are fine and as I say everyone gets something out of it. But to be honest what's important is that we operate as a kindergarten. Sisters going around on wheels is a lot of fun I know but it's only one part of what goes on here.

"Making sure children get a good start in life and are well looked after is the top priority. Roller skating is a secondary thing - even if it does put a smile on everyone's faces."

Closer Magazine by Victoria Raym