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It was early in 1869 that three Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word ventured from Galveston to San Antonio to aid in the plight of the sick and homeless. Soon after, the first orphaned children were admitted into their care at the Santa Rosa Infirmary.
As needs grew, St. Joseph's Orphanage for Girls in 1874 and St. John's Orphanage for Boys in 1890 were established. The nuns tirelessly looked after the well-being of the children and soon realized that a separate building for the boys was greatly needed. St. Joseph's Orphanage was the pride of the city in its precedence as the first Catholic orphanage in all of Texas.
Tragically, a disastrous event would move the orphanage to its present day Mission Road site. On the morning of October 30, 1912 a fire destroyed the boys orphanage and in its wake took the lives of five of the nuns and three of the boys. Tales of the heroic efforts by the nuns to save the boys inspired many people in San Antonio and around the country to reach into their pockets in an endeavor to rebuild the home. In conjunction with the Community Chest, now know as the United Way, and due in great part to the generosity of businessman Peter Kuntz, enough money was raised to rebuild the home. The boys and nuns of St. John's temporarily lived in the annex of the Mission Concepción, which was located directly across the street from their future home. Each day, they could see the progress being made on the building. On December 28, 1913 a new residence for orphaned boys was dedicated and named St. Peter's Home, after it's primary benefactor.
The first years at the newly build St. Peter's Home were spent in everyday boyhood activity. Soon , however, the nuns became aware that the housing at St. Joseph's was not adequate to meet the needs of the girls residing there. The building was located very close to a prison and was also quickly becoming a fire hazard. Not wanting to repeat the devastating events that had occurred at St. John's, new wings were erected on the grounds of St. Peter's to accommodate the girls. On November 24, 1929, the two orphanages merged and became known as St. Peter-St. Joseph's Home.
Over the years, the children spent their days in prayer, classes, meals, and recreation. The 1930's were particularly difficult because the country was knee deep in the Great Depression. Times were hard and babies were often left at the Home for the nuns to take care of. The growing philosophy of the times lent to raising a well-rounded individual which was what the nuns endeavored to do. In 1967, in an effort to expand the Home, a new building honoring the late Sister Mary Kostka was built to house teenage girls on the grounds. Mary Kostka Hall became the first "cottage" like facility on the grounds and would later be the inspiration for other dorms.
The 1970's brought about much change at St. Peter-St. Joseph's. Archbishop Furey created a Board of Governors to oversee the direction of the Home thus relieving the nuns of much of their responsibility. The dedication of the nuns to the well being of the children was not forgotten! The face of America, at that time, was changing as well and catalyzed the growing need for regulation in childcare facilities. St. Peter - St. Josephs Children's Home gained it's license as a residential childcare facility by the state of Texas.
Volunteerism became an important aspect of the home in 1975 when the Ladies' Auxiliary was founded. It continues to be the most prominent and helpful volunteer group even today. As in the past, this group dedicates their time and effort to supporting the home. They have lent their emotional and financial support in various ways throughout the years with the most crucial aspect being their dedication to the Ladies Auxiliary Thrift Store. Their ongoing help has continued to be a blessing to St. PJ's.
Times changed at St. Peter-St. Joseph's Children Home which was now commonly referred to as St. PJ's. The Home is no longer an orphanage but has transitioned into a Home that cares for abused, neglected, abandoned, and homeless children. In 1985, much of the Home was demolished to make room for two new cottages, which were built within the historical guidelines. The board and administrators recognized the need to provide a homelike atmosphere for the children and house parents residing at St. PJ's and thus constructed the new dorms with comfortable living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms that could accommodate two children. The dorms were named after Archbishop Flores and longtime benefactor of the Home, Bill Crain. The only original building left standing was the chapel-dining hall, which remained the focal point of the grounds. Soon after, Mary Kostka Hall was refurbished into an office building for the administrative staff.
The face of St. PJ's would continue to change in the upcoming years. In 1994, a dorm, known as Kiddie Kottage, was built on the grounds. Today this enables the Home to accept children as young as infants. In response to a need to keep family sibling groups together and with the new additions to the Home, St. PJ's became the only local residential basic childcare facility to care for children between the ages of infancy to eighteen years old. In April of 1999, the Marie and Charles Wolff Kidz Korner Counseling Center was established to provide accessible and affordable therapeutic help to the children residing at St. PJ's as well as adults, families, and children from the community.
St. PJ's began operation of an emergency shelter in July 2002, converting our Administration building to a short-term emergency placement (up to 90 days) for 27 children, ages 2 through 11; this facility is also licensed by TDFPS.
St. PJ's received an Adoption Program License from TDFPS in 2007. In August 2009, funding was received for the creation of an Early intervention and Child Development Program. In September 2009, emergency shelter services were expanded with the opening of the state-of-the-art Valero Adolescent Emergency Shelter which can house up to 32 adolescents ages 12-17.
Most of the children in St. PJ's care have been removed from their family by Child Protective Services and placed here for long-term care (on average nine months). St. Peter - St. Joseph Children's Home provides residential care to abused and neglected children and comprehensive therapeutic services to the community in a safe, peaceful environment - healing body, mind and spirit. The past and present have been filled with change for St. PJ's, but the philosophy of caring for and supporting children and families spans all decades since St. PJ's was first established. St. Peter-St. Joseph's Children's Home has stood the test of time and will continue to serve children and expand into the community for many years to come. |
