United Way
Donor Number
09414
Mission
History
Administration
Mission Back to Menu/Top
Inspired by the gospel message, “Let the children come unto me”, St. Vincent Homes provides services to children, youth and their families. Recognizing the dignity and worth of all persons, we are committed to work together to help families and their individual members develop to their fullest potential and to experience the fullness of life that is their heritage as children of God.
In this spirit, we accept each individual as Jesus did, and embrace every person of every race and creed in a community of faith, hope and love. Utilizing the core values of compassion, dignity, charity, justice and excellence basic to Christianity and the field of professional Child Welfare, St. Vincent’s will continue to impact on social change and advocate for social justice in service to the children, youth and families of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
History Back to Menu/Top
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St. Vincent Homes has served children and youth in need of placement since its founding by St. John Neumann in 1855. The profile of these residents has varied as the needs of children and families have changed throughout the years: initially German immigrants and Civil War orphans, later victims of poverty, disease and abuse. Presently, St. Vincent’s serves adolescent girls and young mothers and their babies. Additionally, as the preferences of government funders and referral sources have changed over time, St. Vincent Homes (SVH) has remained flexible and responsive to the changing needs for youth and families.
SVH can trace its beginnings to the efforts of Catholic women, who, under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Peter’s School, placed seven orphans in a row house on 5th Street near the Church while awaiting the construction of the orphanage in Tacony. It was not until 1859 that “The German Roman Catholic St. Vincent Orphan Asylum of Tacony and Vicinity” was finally opened. In addition to Archdiocesan leadership, many Religious Orders have contributed services to St. Vincent’s including the Sisters of St. Francis who staffed the facility for the first several and months and the Sisters of St. Joseph who currently minister to the residents. Additionally, chaplains from the Redemptorists, Augustinians and Oblates of St. Francis De Sales and several other Orders of Sisters have served at St. Vincent’s. It is the School Sisters of Notre Dame and their American foundress, Mother Caroline Freiss, however, who were brought to St. Vincent’s from Munich by St. John Neumann, who have provided continuous service to St. Vincent’s for more than 150 years.
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During 2008, St. Vincent Homes began its most dramatic change ever. The current services offered to young women and their families began the final move from the Tacony campus into community based group homes located in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This decision to transition to the community was necessary to better align the services of St. Vincent Homes with the preferences of governmental funders and referral sources. It is also in line with national trends indicating that youth in placement need to be time limited and in locations close to their families. The Mission continues. To date, SVH has served over 12,000 children and youth needing out of home care.
Please contact us if you would like a tour of our History Room (Mother Caroline Room). Call Sister Louise Kane, 215-992-5670 Ext. 8, to schedule a visit. Thank you!
Administration Back to Menu/Top
| Administrator | Rick Pytlewski, MSW |
| Director of Social Services | Theresa Metz, MSW |
| Director of Group Life | Pamela Gallagher |
| Director of Quality Control/ Development | Sister Louise Kane, SSJ, MSW |
| Director of Nursing Services | Diane Amato, RN |
| Director of Youth Ministry | Sister Barbara Zurine, SSND |
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Main Office:
St. Vincent Homes
1509 Church Street • Philadelphia, PA 19124
phone 215-992-5402 • fax 215-992-5189