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.
In Seoul, the Sisters of Mary operate a kindergarten and an elementary school, while in Busan, they maintain a kindergarten, middle and high schools. 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.