South African Catholic Children’s Hospital Marks 90 Years, Catholic Sisters Share Heartfelt Memories of Service

Sr. Margaret expresses her gratitude to benefactors, who she says have “a lasting impact” on the mission of the health facility. She says, “Today, this mission continues through the generosity of those who support St Joseph’s. Your kindness has a lasting impact.”

In the press statement that has a 5-minute video recording published on YouTube, Sr. Elizabeth, who served at the facility from 1997 to 2013, recalls the love and dedication that defined her service there.

Sr. Elizabeth. Credit: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care

“I spent many years in these very wards, caring for children who were too fragile to go home. Each child had a story—some were recovering from surgeries, others needed rehabilitation after severe illness,” she says.

The SAC member further recalls about the children, “All of them needed love, patience, and a place to heal. The care at St Joseph’s has always been about more than just medicine.”

“It is about faith and healing, restoring dignity, and nurturing hope. Today, as I see the nurses continuing this mission, I know that St Joseph’s remains a place of God’s love in action,” Sr. Elizabeth says.

In the milk kitchen, Sr. Sylvia, who served at the facility for nearly two decades reflects on her time preparing “small bottles” of milk for fragile infants.

Credit: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care

“Every drop of milk prepared in this hospital carried with it the love and care of everyone who served here. Many babies arrived underweight, fragile, and in need of strength to fight for their lives,” she recalls, and continues, “Preparing their milk was a sacred duty—we knew that in those small bottles, we were giving them a chance at life.” 

According to Sr. Sylvia, “Today, the children at St Joseph’s still receive the nourishment they need, not just in food but in care, kindness, and faith.”

On her part, 92-year-old Sr. Boscona is grateful that the hospital’s mission lives on.

Sr. Boscona. Credit: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care

“St Joseph’s was always more than a hospital—it was a sanctuary of hope. The children who came through these doors were given a second chance at life, and for us, it was a calling to serve them with love and dignity,” she says.

Today, Sr. Boscona goes on to say, “St Joseph’s is the only Catholic children’s hospital in South Africa — a place where faith and healing remain intertwined. The spirit of the Pallottine Sisters, who founded this mission, lives on in every child who receives care here.”

Founded in 1935 by five German Pallottine Sisters, St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care has served as a sanctuary for children recovering from serious illness or surgery who are too ill to return home and unable to access long-term care elsewhere. 

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The hospital continues to provide free, high-quality intermediate care for children in need, the press statement indicates.

Credit: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care

It also indicates that the visit of the four SAC members “was a poignant moment, bridging the past with the present.”

“St Joseph’s has cared for thousands of children over the past nine decades, but its mission is far from over. The hands caring for the children who rely on the vital services provided may have changed, but the purpose remains the same: to heal, to nurture, and to love,” according to the press statement.

It indicates that “those who support the legacy of St Joseph’s, whether through donations, legacy gifts, or simply by sharing the story of St Joseph’s, ensure that this place of healing continues to serve those who need it most.”

For the 90th anniversary, St Joseph’s has launched the “9 ZERO Challenge” that appeals to the people of God to support its mission by sharing its story, making a donation, or leaving a legacy gift.

“Be part of this legacy—join the 9 ZERO Challenge, share the story, or leave a legacy gift to ensure St Joseph’s continues its mission for generations to come,” the press release reads.

Credit: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care

A bridge from hospital to home, St Joseph's Intermediate Paediatric Care believes that every medically fragile child has the right to excellent, holistic healthcare, delivered in the spirit of Christian love and devotion.

With a Western Cape population of close to 8 million, St Joseph’s is the only non-profit institution offering this service. Located in Montana, Cape Town, it serves severely vulnerable communities. 

It is St Joseph’s belief that no child should be left behind because of the circumstances they were born into, or their need for ongoing care after hospital.