Our Story

It is incredible how one small idea can grow into something truly special. Sacred Heart Children's Home, Laredo Texas is rooted in the belief that we all have an inherent responsibility to make a meaningful difference in others' lives.

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Sacred Heart Children's Home has been serving the community since April 25th, 1907. It is a part of the Congregation of the Religious Sisters 'Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor' founded by Saint Jose Maria de Yermo y Parres in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico in 1885. 

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Their first home was established in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico with the purpose to serve the poorest, the most in need. The Congregation continued establishing schools, children’s homes, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and missions in Mexico, later branching into Central and South America, Italy, Africa, and United States.

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On April 1907, Sacred Heart Orphanage for girls only, was the first home built in the United States (Laredo, Texas).  Around 1930’s, an orphanage for boys “Saint Joseph Orphanage” was established on Water Street.  Unfortunately, the facilities of both orphanages did not meet the needs to its means, so the property of Saint Joseph was sold and the boys were housed in the Sacred Heart Orphanage while the construction got on its way.  On April 25, 1965, the construction of Sacred Heart Children’s Home was completed on its new location.  It is a complex that stands on a 62 acres tract located on Zapata Hwy.  Its capacity is for 80 children: boys, 5 through 10 years of age, girls, 5 years of age until they finish high school and 16 religious sisters. 

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The home has a current license from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services; and it is the only Catholic Children’s Home in the Diocese of Laredo.  

 

 

The majority of the children are residents of Webb county and surrounding areas.  Its main purpose is to provide a home for children who for some justified reason cannot stay at their family home, as well as to provide spiritual, moral and educational opportunities.

 

 

 Children who reside at this facility are those whose home environment is such that the whole family needs guidance and counseling. This gives us the opportunity to work with the family and in this form salvage whatever possible work we have done with child.  

 

 

The type of children whom we receive are those whose who lost both parents or one of them by death or divorce; those whose parents cannot provide for the child’s basic needs; and those who have been abused, neglected, or rejected.  

 

 

Through the presence of this home, the sisters in union with the people who form the family of the United Way of Laredo can provide a loving home to those children who are in need, because without this opportunity they have a significant possibility of suffering  poverty, hunger, neglected and abuse.