St. PJ’s Children’s Home strives to transform each child from recovery to healing to hope. Our loving team of professionals welcome a child with open arms and an open heart, so that a child experiences and learns a happy, healthy, and loving relationship on their path to healing.
The mission of St. PJ’s Children’s Home is to be a safe and loving refuge for children in crisis and to accompany them on their journey to healing and wholeness, breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect one child at a time.
With over 130 years of caring for children, St. PJ’s Children’s Home has a unique understanding of and commitment to providing a safe, nurturing environment for children in crisis.
In 1869, three sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word welcomed and cared for abandoned and orphaned children. Over the next twenty years, St. Joseph’s Orphanage was opened for girls and St. John’s Orphanage for boys. In 1912, a devastating fire consumed the orphanage taking the lives of five nuns and three boys. Tales of the heroic efforts of the nuns to save the boys inspired people from around the country catching the attention of businessman, Peter Kuntz, who made a generous donation for rebuilding the residence that would later be dedicated in his name.
By 1929, the two orphanages merged to be known as St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home with an archway built to mark that day and the entrance to our home for children. Since then, the home transitioned to care for abused, neglected, abandoned, and homeless children. Future residences were built with a homelike atmosphere to include comfortable living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms.
In partnership with Catholic Charities, and under the umbrella of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc., St. PJ’s Children’s Home serves as a temporary home to children who suffer abuse and neglect. Today, our home includes domestic and international shelters, counseling services and a mental health task force that extends to community-based counseling.
At St. PJ’s Children’s Home, children are welcomed by a team of professionals to guide them from crisis to thriving. A case manager assesses their needs and refers them to services to address various challenges. In the meantime, they receive immediate care from health assessments and counseling to education while stabilizing the child with safety and security.
