It all started with a fire...

On April 30, 2025, one of the largest fires in Israel’s history burned through more than 10,000 hectares of natural land in the Holy Land. The Monastery of Our Lady of Latroun stood at the center of the disaster.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of the firefighters, the buildings were spared — but the surrounding environment, including the monastery’s olive groves, vineyards, and cedar woods, was severely damaged. Faced with this ecological trial, the monks chose to respond with courage and hope.

Immediate Response

When the monks saw the damage the fire had caused to the environment, they began responding right away — all while continuing their life of prayer. Friends helped assess the extent of the destruction with drone footage, and the results were devastating: 1,000 century-old trees burned down to the roots, and 3,000 more with their branches completely scorched.

Brother Martin didn’t waste a moment. With the help of many local volunteers who came to support the community, he armed himself with chainsaws and buckets of tree-healing whitewash, setting out to save whatever could still be saved. They stripped the damaged trunks bare and pruned away everything else. As the team worked its way across the hillside, it gradually turned white with the stumps of the treated trees.
Nothing was certain yet…

Thinking Long-Term

After the pruning and whitewashing, Brother M. Martin decided it was best to start watering the trees earlier than usual. The challenge was immense — the entire irrigation system had either melted in the fire or been damaged beyond use.

Together with Father M. Aloïs and Father M. Daniel, he decided to invest in a temporary watering system: a makeshift setup of flat hoses connected to a pump and a high-capacity sprinkler. For four months, they moved it around the property twice a day.

Their efforts paid off — new shoots and branches began to appear. Now, a more permanent irrigation system needs to be installed, and the trees will require ongoing care for the next four years until their trunks regain their full canopy.

Act — With Us, Now, for the Future

Now is the time to act. Ensuring that the olive trees take root again means restoring a stable environmental balance across 30 hectares of Holy Land — for generations to come. Olive trees have always been, and still are, a symbol of peace and renewal.

For the monks of Latroun, this is a powerful message to the local community: it shows that, strengthened by prayer, it is possible — together — to build something lasting.

Without your support, this would not be possible. Be a bearer of peace in this unique land which, despite the turmoil of the world, saw the birth of true Love: Christ Jesus, who taught us to love our neighbor as He has loved us.