What became of the house of St. Anne and St. Joachim?Each year, when the faithful collaborate with the Collection for the Holy Places of the Holy Land, their generosity is transformed into concrete help and real hope. The money given not only serves to safeguard the holy places, but also to support social and educational works that protect the life and dignity of the local Christian communities.
The Franciscan Children's Home of Bethlehem is a living example of this: an initiative of the Custody of the Holy Land where donations are converted into education, medical care, human accompaniment and a possible future for children and young people who have known pain too soon.
A few steps from the Basilica of the Nativity, the home run by Sandro is no longer an institution but a living Bethlehem where a true family spirit is the real shield against tragedy. In this shelter, the bond is so deep that the team and the children have woven a web of belonging that defies the logic of conflict. «We are a family and, if something happens to us, it happens to us together», is the feeling that prevails in a house where everyday life is celebrated in the simplest details, such as the children teaching a parrot that has become a member of this unique home to speak.
This bond has worked what adults in the area describe as a «special grace»: the total absence of fear in the little ones throughout the two years of war. While the sky was tinged with the trail of bombs passing over their heads, Sandro's children slept «peacefully», astonishing the adults with their serenity. Their secret, they tell with emotion, is the physical closeness of the chapel: «We are next to Jesus», they repeat with the certainty of those who know that the presence of the Eucharist in their own home turns any basement into an impregnable refuge. For them, being with family and being with God are literally the same thing.
The origins
The Franciscan Children's Home of Bethlehem is one of the many social services offered by the Custody of the Holy Land at the service of the local Christian community. Founded in 2007 as an affiliate of Terra Sancta College, this Home was born with a clear mission: to open a new window of hope and build a bridge to a brighter and more dignified future for children and young people in vulnerable situations.
Among the many stories that reflect the Hogar's mission, the story of a young boy who, after seven years of silence, was able to resume dialogue with his mother stands out. This process of family reconciliation symbolizes one of the deepest missions of the Franciscan Children's Home: not only to welcome and care, but also to heal wounds, rebuild bonds and help families walk together again.
Under the slogan “Home is not only the place where you live, but the place where you are understood.”, The Hogar is located in the city of Bethlehem, a few steps away from the birthplace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is specially equipped to welcome children and adolescents between 7 and 18 years of age who, for various reasons, have been immersed in contexts of pain and suffering. Among the causes are orphanhood, abandonment, neglect resulting from divorce, drug abuse in the family environment, physical and emotional abuse, as well as other serious socio-economic problems affecting the Palestinian Christian community.
The present
Currently, the Home accompanies about 30 children, 12 of whom reside permanently in the house. The Custody takes care of all their needs: education, food, medical care, medicine, clothing and daily accompaniment. A team of 10 to 13 people - educators, teachers, kitchen and cleaning staff - is constantly present to ensure a family and protective environment.
The children of the Franciscan Home attend the Terra Sancta School in Bethlehem, a school run by the Franciscans that welcomes more than 1,300 students from the city and surrounding areas. The Hogar was created to care for and accompany Christian children with serious social, psychological and economic difficulties. More than a simple shelter, it offers a safe, stable and welcoming environment, where their educational, spiritual and human needs are attended to. The objective is to foster their personal growth, their social adaptation and their integral formation, preparing them to become responsible and committed young people.
If you wish to collaborate with the Bethlehem Home you can do so by bank transfer to the Franciscan Boys Home. IBAN NO: PS79 ARAB 0000 0000 9050 7285 0053 0. Arab Bank p.l.c Bethlehem branch, swift code: ARABPS22050.
Español 
English 
Italiano