"Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me..."  (Mk 9:48)

I don’t think that most of us realize how important the care of orphans and widows is to God.  All throughout scripture we can find how this is instructed and mandated to us by God.  We find it all throughout the Old Testament.  This theme is found in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Job, Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah and all throughout the Psalms.  We also find it in John and James.  The fact of the matter is that the care of such as these is in God’s very nature. “Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) So, what do we do to ensure the care and protection of such as these?  Aside from giving an occasional donation to groups such as Catholic Relief Services or Catholic Charities toward the care of orphans, we may buy a toy for the annual “Toys for Tots” charity drive or maybe donate a coat when our local parish makes the request.  We mainly depend on our local government agencies such as the Department of Children Service to handle such matters.  Fortunately, our Catholic faith understands and responds to this corporal work of mercy.  Throughout the centuries, millions of unwanted children have been left at the doorsteps of convents, rectories and churches. The Catholic religious have always responded in caring for such orphans.

On our pilgrimage here in the Holy Land, we were blessed to meet the Sisters of St. Elizabeth who run the Home of Peace Orphanage on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and the Home of Peace Orphanage in Bethlehem. As the sisters told us, “Because many families are large and there is also just as much unemployment, there are times when a mother cannot feed her children – simply because there is no way.” The sisters began their mission in Jerusalem three years after the First Intifada. This came at a time where many children where left orphaned by the conflict.  The newly founded Home of Peace had up to 40 children living in it.  Some of which were found hiding in local cemeteries.

Today, the Home of Peace Orphanage feels that the best way to heal the wounds left by war is by providing not only a loving home but by emphasizing education.  Because the public schools in the West Bank and throughout the Holy Land do not cater to Christian families or the Christian faith, the Home of Peace has made this the forefront of their mission. 

I personally witnessed the love that these children have for these three sisters that care for them.  I could not help but noticed how these children identify with these sisters as if they were their very own mothers. We were fortunate to spend several afternoons with the children as they asked us questions and shared playtime with us.  It was an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime.

I am very excited because my brothers from CAM 3 North back home at Mundelein Seminary have decided to donate all the money they will collect from their annual fund-raising event in February to the Home of Peace.  Because of this very thoughtful contribution, Home of Peace will be able to provide a little more care for more orphans.  I am proud that our faith does recognize this call made on us to care for those less fortunate especially the orphans.  If you would like to find out more on how you can help, please contact Mundelein Seminary.