Our Programmes in South Korea

In 1964, Fr. Aloysius Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary in Busan, Korea to serve the poorest of the poor. 

Adopting the Virgin of the Poor as the group’s patroness, the Sisters of Mary fulfill in their own little way the Virgin of the Poor’s message of relieving the suffering of the poor by establishing child welfare programs like Boystown and Girlstown Schools, setting up medical service to the sick, and providing shelter for the homeless and handicapped. 

All charity programs in South Korea were established well before the death of our founder Father Al.

In Busan, the Sisters of Mary maintain a kindergarten, middle and high schools, while in Seoul, they operated a kindergarten and an elementary school up until 2019. These live-in schools are for abandoned and orphaned children. In addition, the Sisters of Mary provide help to the poor and the needy in their hospitals and homes.

Busan facilities overiew

• 1 four-story dormitory for boys
• 1 six-story dormitory with an indoor gymnasium for boys
• 1 five-story Middle School with an indoor gymnasium for boys
• 1 four-story Technical High School with classrooms and workshops for boys
• 1 five-story Babies Home and Kindergarten building
• The Swiss House for Babies – a four-story home for babies (named after loyal supporters from Switzerland)
• 1 Expectant Mothers’ Home
• 1 four-story Middle and High School with classrooms and an indoor gymnasium for girls
• 1 four-story dormitory for girls
• 1 two-story building for infants
• The Kuho Hospital and Kuhosho Sanatorium for Tuberculosis patients
• The Maria Kuho Complex – 2 three-story buildings which house tuberculosis patients and aid in their recovery

Archives photos retrace the history of our mission, from its very roots in Korea, back in the 1960's.