It’s a full house at St Christopher’s Home in Suva, as more children are entrusted to the care of the Community of the Sacred Name.

This month 32 children, from infancy to 18 years of age, are being cared for at the home – 7 more than the previous month.

The Community of the Sacred Name has had a presence in the Pacific since the 1960s.

St Christopher’s was established at Nakasi in 1968 and caters for boys from infancy to 12 years, and girls from infancy to 18 years.

The government’s social welfare ministry refers many children to St Christopher’s. 

Sister Kalolaine Tuineau, who is in charge of the home, says numbers have been even higher in the past, according to need, but the priority is always that St Christopher’s is a home for each individual rather than an institution.

“At the heart of the home is the love and care of each child, a gift from God, and we are here to respond to the need,” says Sister Kalo.

Some children grow up at the home while others spend only a short time with the sisters.

A number of schools in New Zealand and Australia also have strong relationships with St Christopher’s. School projects range from tending the grounds to solar water heating and painting.   

Last month a group of juniors from Auckland ‘s Diocesan School for Girls went on a service trip.

They worked on an environmental project at St Christopher’s as well as at St Joseph the Worker School, which a number of the children attend.

Next week students from Waikato Diocesan School for Girls will visit St Christopher’s to paint the dormitory ceilings.

And in September Year 8 students from The Armidale School in New South Wales will make their annual service-learning trip.

The students’ task is to replace the tiled floors in the children’s bedrooms.