Founder & History
Meet our founder, Father Al
Aloysius Schwartz was the founder of Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children and the Sisters of Mary. Known as “Father Al,” he became a Champion of the Poor and a spiritual father to countless children. Through our Villages, the Boystowns and Girlstowns worldwide, he transformed lives and gave hope to children living in extreme poverty.
Father Al’s Life
A Saint in the Making
From a young age, Aloysius Schwartz felt called to serve God in the poor. Born on September 18, 1930, in Washington, D.C., he grew up with a desire to become a priest and missionary. He would dedicate his life to serving the poor. In 1944, he began his religious formation at St. Charles Seminary in Maryland. Then, he earned a BA degree from Maryknoll College. Later, he decided to go to Belgium to continue his studies at The Catholic University of Louvain. There, he fully prepared himself for his mission of service to those in need.
Beyond his studies, Aloysius lived his mission through acts of charity. While in Europe, he was further inspired to dedicate his priesthood to the service of the poor. Consequently, he spent his free time helping ragpickers as a seminarian. This desire d intensified after visiting Banneux, where the Virgin of the Poor appeared. There, he renewed his commitment to serve the poor, inspired by Mary’s message.
In 1957, Father Al was ordained a priest. Soon after, his bishop assigned him to Busan, South Korea. There, he witnessed the devastating effects of the Korean War. In 1961, he founded a U.S.-based charity, Korean Relief, to support his missionary projects. Recognizing the need for help, he founded the Sisters of Mary in 1964.
Thanks to donations from friends and supporters, Father Al built the first Village for Children in South Korea. In these Boystowns and Girlstowns, he and the Sisters of Mary cared for orphans and abandoned children. They provided shelter, education, and hope to children trapped in extreme poverty. Father Al also built hospitals, TB centers, and hospices for homeless men, elderly, disabled children, and unwed mothers.
September 18, 1930 - Birth of Aloysius Schwartz
Born in Washington, D.C., to Louis F. Schwartz and Cedelia A. Bourassa.
June 29, 1957 - Ordination to Priesthood
Ordained a diocesan priest at St. Martin’s Church in Washington, D.C., by Auxiliary Bishop McNamara.
December 8, 1957 - Father Al arrives in South Korea
Upon arriving in South Korea, Father Al Schwartz was assigned into the Diocese of Busan.
August 15, 1964 - The Sisters of Mary are founded
Originally called the Mariahwe Sisters, this religious congregation now numbers over 370 Sisters. Today, they serve in South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras and Tanzania.
Father Al diagnosed with ALS
During a visit to the US, doctors diagnosed Father Al with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
March 16, 1992 - Father Al dies of ALS
Before he passed away, Father Al named Sister Michaela Kim of the Sisters of Mary as his successor.
December 10, 2003 - Cause for beatification & canonization is opened
The Archdiocese of Manila opened the process for Father Al Schwartz’s Beatification and Canonization at the Manila Cathedral in the Philippines.
January 22, 2015 - Father Al is named Venerable
Pope Francis authorized to declare Aloysius Schwartz “Venerable.” This decree recognized Father Al’s heroic virtue, and advanced his journey toward sainthood.
In 1985, Father Al Schwartz expanded his mission to the Philippines. However, in 1989, doctors diagnosed him with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Despite the diagnosis, Father Al accepted his illness with joy and serenity, viewing it as a gift from God. In 1990, even with declining health, he established the first Village for Children in Mexico.
With deep humility and steadfast faith, Father Al endured criticism and suffering to serve God through the poor. Though unable to walk, he continued his mission from a wheelchair, working joyfully until the end.
Father Al passed away in 1992 at the Girlstown in Manila and was laid to rest in Silang, Cavite. Before his passing, he appointed Sister Michaela Kim of the Sisters of Mary as his successor.
Since then, under the Sisters of Mary, Father Al’s mission has expanded to Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, and Tanzania.
Currently, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints is reviewing his cause for Beatification and Canonization. In May 2004, the Church declared him a ‘Servant of God’. Later, in 2015, Pope Francis confirmed his heroic virtue and declared him “Venerable”.
They might be Saints: Fr. Al Schwartz
Host Michael O’Neill explores the remarkable life and canonization cause of Venerable Aloysius “Father Al” Schwartz.
In this episode, he highlights the founding of the Sisters of Mary and the Brothers of Christ. These religious communities continue Father Al’s mission of serving the world’s poorest children.
Today, they carry on his legacy through charitable programs in the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, and Tanzania. Thanks to their work, tens of thousands of children receive shelter, education, and care rooted in faith and compassion.