St. Joe's Carmelite Home for Boys - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

  Carmelite Home for Boys opened its doors to the homeless in 1917. During those first years, coutless small children - babies and toddlers - were cared for lovingly by the sisters. In 1930, a large new building was constructed and was instantly filled with the needy boys. Out Mother Foundress had always recommended that our Homes reflect a true family atmosphere and that the groups be kept small in order to facilitate this. She was a woman ahead of her times, and later, much of her thinking and philosophy was adopted by Catholic Family Services, whose director thought highly of the work of the Carmelite Sisters in Wauwatosa.

  In the 1960's, the Home was victim to the turbulence that hit society as a whole. As a result of new laws regarding institutional placement, the population of Carmelite Home plummeted to nineteen boys. In 1967, this crisis was resolved by the decision of the sisters to provide residential treatment for adolescent boys who were involved in delinquency. After prayerful reflection, the sisters responded to the needs of the children and youth who were participants in anti-social behavior and court-related situations. In the ensuing years, many adolescent boys have been salvaged and have actually been instilled with a spirit of Christianity that has allowed them to return home and grow into productive young adults.

  Carmelite Home for Boys, Inc. is owned and operated by the Carmelite Sisters D.C.J. It has rised high in the ratings by the counties and communities it serves.

Team Work

  Goal Setting: Highly structured, individualized treatment plans are prepared for each boy. A staff psychiastrist and the entire Carmelite treatment team meet oftem to asess progress of regressions and to formulate future plans. Each youth at Carmelite Home is assigned a therapist who is responsible for his counseling needs and for coordinating short and long term goals. The boy, even though not living at home, still remains a part of his family. Family therapy sessions deal with the resolution of problems so that more wholesome relationships are allowed to develop.

  Healthy Mind and Body: At Carmelite Home, a physical fitness, personal hygiene, amd overall good health are emphasized. The ever-popular gym enhances the development of sound bodies - the athletic program serves as an outlet for built-up emotions that need to be channeled into competitive group activities.

  Education: The on-grounds school provides a unique opportunity to strengthen basic academic skills through individualized programs and small classes. The emphasis is on remedial and pre-vocational subjects.

  Each Carmelite resident has his own room. He also participates in group therapy sessions conducted by a staff psychiatrist, in which he may vent freely his personal feelings and ideas and hopefully obtain the resolution of peer-related and inter-personal problems.

  Over the many years of its existence, Carmelite Home for Boys has remodeled almost ever inch of the old building. New additions were added on, including the huge gymnasium and school building, complete with certified teachers and proper accreditation. The adolescent boy who is served by the Carmelite Sisters and their dedicated staff truly have ample opportunity to reshape their lives during a critical stage of their lives. In 1992, the Home celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. The tiny seed planted by our Mother Foundress in 1917 has yeilded a rich harvest of good works for the salvation of souls. We thank God for the many sisters stationed in Wauwatosa over the years, we reflect upon the many blessings given to us - and we look forward to a future centered in God and we ask for His continued guidence upon this neccessary work.