The Holy Innocents House, Bloomfield, Connecticut

Responding to the AIDS health crisis in the 1980s, Sister Claire Pierz, SNDdeN saw the need to care for children suffering from the disease. Despite the complex and daunting licensing requirements, she founded Holy Innocents House in Bloomfield, Connecticut, in November 1989.

Sister Claire Pierz, SNDdeN with a foster child at the Holy Innocents House.

She and her volunteers became foster parents to infants and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Initially fostering twins exposed to AIDS, Sister Claire expanded to care for more children similarly affected, earning a designation for ‘medically fragile’ children. She courageously challenged the prevailing misconceptions about AIDS, advocating for the inclusion of affected children in foster care.

The home is now closed, but Sister Claire maintains contact with former foster children, comforted that they found loving families and understand their worth. Her pioneering efforts continue to inspire, impacting the perception and care of medically vulnerable children today.