Public Healtlz. and Social Welfare Wo-rk
Heart Orphanage, located at 237 Tobin Place in El Paso. With no resources other than her simple faith that "the Lord will provide," the Sisters have made a success of their arduous undertaking. Mother Paz said in 1936, "Our heart is full of gratitude towards all the charitable friends and institutions who have helped to care for the poor orphans." The orphanage had seventy-five wards in 1936. 72 At the request of Bishop A. J. Schuler, of El Paso, Mother Mary John of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio sent four Sisters to establish an orphanage, St. Margaret's Home. They arrived in El Paso on September 10, 1919, but as the orphanage was yet unfur- nished, they accepted the hospitality of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul and went to live in Hotel Dieu Hospital until the building was ready. A kind benefactor gave the Bishop an eleven-acre tract for the project, with an eight room building. It was quickly made ready for occupancy and the Sisters moved in and received the first orphan, Mary Wolf, on September 21, 1919. A humble chapel was set up as soon as possible and on October 17, the first Mass was said in the new home, which was duly blessed the next day. The old frame building was replaced a few years later and additions have since been made until today it has accommoda- tions for more than fifty children. Many orphans have gone through the home and not a few have attained success in the business world, or in the nursing profession and some have joined sisterhoods and dedicated their lives to service. Occasionally they revisit the Home and are extremely happy to find some Sister who still remembers them. 73 Houses /01' Delinquents. Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge established themselves in San Antonio in 1897 and founded Our Lady of Victory School for Girls. They came from the Community of our Lady of Charity in Toronto, Canada at the invitation of Bishop J. A. Forest, who informed Mother Dunbar on March 30, 1897, that everything was ready for the opening of a home for girls. Catholics and Protestants alike joined to make possible a center for the rehabilitation of delinquent and neglected girls. Our Lady of Charity of Refuge Home was first established in a house purchased in the East End, where a large tract of land was donated for the new foundation. The Sisters arrived on August 24, 1897 and imme-
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72 Diocese of El Paso, Texas Centennial. 73 Diocese of El Paso, Tnas Ce#IJ41Ulial.
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