The Sisters of Divine Providence, in Allison Park, PA, began a Refugee Assistance project in earnest in September 2018, as they welcomed asylum-seeking refugees from La Posada Providencia—their sponsored ministry located in San Benito, Texas—to Pittsburgh.  The  refugee families—mostly mothers with young children, originally from Central America and Africa—live in a fully furnished, equipped and family-friendly six-bedroom house donated to them for use by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.  They call it Charity House.

Located on the property of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Charity House is less than a mile from their administrative offices and motherhouse in Allison Park.  (near the city of Pittsburgh, PA).   While awaiting asylum approval, the refugee families receive basic services including food, clothing, healthcare, legal aid, English classes and mentoring.  They are able to provide these services through a collaborative effort with other local refugee assistance groups, funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters and the generosity of their donors.

Their refugee ministry, providing compassion, support and protection to these families fleeing violence and persecution in their homelands, advances their commitment to social justice and continues to fulfill their mission of “making God’s providence more visible in our world.” Coordinators of this ministry are Sisters Hilary Hooks and Betty Sundry.