Our Lady of Sorrows Home
in Jerusalem
About this Ministry
The Our Lady of Sorrows Home–translated from Notre-Dame des Douleurs–is located in East Jerusalem and welcomes disadvantaged and isolated elderly people, bringing them joy and family life during the last years of their lives. Founded in 1957, it is situated in the district of Ras Al Amud, only a few meters from the wall that separates Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The Home is operated by the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows, a French congregation founded by Marie Saint-Frai in the early nineteenth century, whose charisma is welcoming and caring for the poor. Created at the request of the Latin Patriarchate, the Our Lady of Sorrows Home currently has approximately fifty full time residents.
Four Sisters of the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows live and work at the Home, and open their doors to all elderly people in need, including Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Sister Marie-Edouard serves as Superior of the Order and resides at the Mother House in Tarbes, France.
The Daughters of our Lady of Sorrows
The charism of the Daughters comes from Miss Saint-Frai and Father Dominique Ribes, the founders of the congregation in 1866, specifically: “Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Francis of Assisi, the same compassion, the same dedication to the elderly, the same trust in Providence.”
The Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows are a witness of this mercy and are called, beyond providing quality care, to “be a comforting presence, offer free to all without distinction, a love that encourages them to live and be a testimony to the text of their Constitution: Love simply with a universal heart. ”
Since 2012, the Home has benefited from the presence of three religious of the Little Sisters of Jesus, a Catholic community inspired by the life and writings of Blessed Father Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916). They arrived from Gaza, following the closing of borders. In addition to their community life, the Sisters share many roles in the house, including “medical officer”, “volunteer leader”, and “sacristan”, and serving as members of the institution’s board of directors. The Sisters are present in all activities around the elderly.
Prayer to our Lady of Sorrows
Our mother of sorrows, with strength from above you stood by the cross, sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore him in your arms, mourning and weeping. We praise you for your faith, which accept- ed the life God planned for you. We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you. We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of his passion.
Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love. Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Amen!
Ministry News
Mass at the Elderly Home of Our Lady of Sorrows
On Sunday, September 18th, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem,…
Sr. Marie-Odile of Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows renews religious vows
On Sunday, September 15, 2019, the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows…
Home of Our Lady of Sorrows in Jerusalem celebrates its 150th anniversary
The Home Our Lady of Sorrows, located in the neighborhood of Ras…
Support This Ministry
As a home supporting over fifty individuals staffed by religious, Our Lady of Sorrows Home in Jerusalem subsists entirely on the generosity of others.