Home of Peace

Home of Peace

For nearly half a century Polish Nuns from the Sisters of St. Elizabeth have been operating a Home of Peace for poor children and orphans on top of the Mount of Olives, with a view of Jerusalem worthy of the finest hotel.

View of Jerusalem from the Home

Sister Stephanie

Sister Stephanie, who has been at the Home for 13 years, is one of three Nuns who currently run the program.

Sister Stephanie says the Home of Peace now has 25 boys and girls, ages 3 through 18, mostly Christians, with some Muslims and some who have no religion. Most are Palestinian children from the West Bank, but some are from Ethiopia and Sudan.

Some of the children (photo courtesy Home of Peace)

Bedroom

"We try to accept the neediest," says Sister Stephanie, "and the parents are generally unemployed."  The program is currently operating at about capacity, although there is one additional room that could be converted to a bedroom to accommodate more children..

Study hall (photo courtesy of Home of Peace)

The children attend private Catholic schools, and the Sisters help them with their homework in the afternoons. They worship and play together, too, and Sister Stephanie's  brother is coming from Poland to help finish a covered playground in front of the building. She says that in the Home of Peace "the children find safety, care, real love, and their new home."

Chapel

Christmas pageant (photo courtesy of Home of Peace)

Story time (photo courtesy of Home of Peace)

Playground awaiting completion by Sister Stephanie's brother

Children's shoes by the door

Jesus in the garden

Sister Stephanie says "Funding for the Home comes from God; it's a miracle. Each month we get just enough, never too much."  Many Polish donors making small contributions provide the funds for the school fees, but the Home needs to raise an additional $6,000 per month for food, utilities, and supplies. Sister Stephanie says some parents who have jobs contribute a little, but most cannot afford it. One of her friends in Boston collected donations from 40 people at Easter and sent her a check for $2,000. I told her I could not promise any funding, but offered to tell the story of the  program on my blog in case any readers would like to start a regular collection. Checks should be payable to "Home of Peace" and mailed to Sisters of St. Elizabeth, Post Office Box 20054, Jerusalem, Israel. It is certainly a worthy cause.

Helping out (photo courtesy of Home of Peace)