St Bernadette's Residential Home, Peru. - Photo: Fr Tony Coney SSC
In the bustling district of San Martín de Porres, Peru, where many families face poverty, instability and social challenges, a quiet but powerful mission has been unfolding for nearly three decades. St Bernadette’s Children’s Centres, established and supported by the Columban missionaries, have become a place of refuge, protection and hope for some of the most vulnerable children in the community.
What began in 1997 as a simple children’s day centre has grown into a comprehensive Columban mission dedicated to the protection of children’s rights and the restoration of dignity for those affected by abuse and neglect. Over 29 years, St Bernadette’s Civil Association has developed a deeply integrated response to the realities faced by children, one that reflects the Columban commitment to justice, peace and the care of the most vulnerable.
At the heart of this mission is the Children’s Day Centre, a welcoming and open space where children from the surrounding neighbourhoods can come freely. Here, they find more than just activities. They find safety.
Children gather to play, study, create and simply be children, often for the first time in an environment free from fear. Staff members, inspired by Columban values and trained to recognise the signs of abuse and distress, provide not only supervision but attentive care and protection.
When concerns arise, the response is immediate and compassionate. Each case is referred to the Children’s Defence Desk, a cornerstone of the Association’s work. Through this service, children are supported by qualified psychologists and families are engaged with sensitivity and care.
The Defence Desk also assists those families struggling with poverty and exclusion, helping them access identity documents, enrol their children in school and secure essential supports such as child maintenance.
For children who have experienced abuse, the journey towards healing can be long and complex. The Defence Desk walks alongside them, offering legal accompaniment and ensuring that cases are properly reported and followed through. In doing so, it not only protects individual children but also contributes to the Columban mission of transforming unjust structures that allow abuse to persist. Over the years, thousands of cases have been addressed through this vital service.
As the needs of the community became clearer, St Bernadette’s expanded its mission. Two additional centres were established to respond to the deeper and often hidden wounds carried by children.
One of these is a Residential Rehabilitation Home for child victims of sexual abuse. For 22 years, this programme has provided a safe and structured environment where children can begin the difficult process of healing. Currently, around 30 children live in the Home. Each child receives not only food, shelter and education, but also specialised psychological care to help them process trauma and rebuild their sense of self-worth. Although Government authorities refer these children, the responsibility for their daily care falls largely on the Centre, sustained through Columban support and the generosity of benefactors.
Alongside this is a school reintegration programme, established 19 years ago, for children at risk of expulsion or dropout. Many of these children come from backgrounds marked by disadvantage, instability or trauma. Through tailored support in literacy and numeracy, combined with psychosocial care and strong family engagement, the programme helps children rediscover confidence in learning. In this way, the Columban mission promotes not only education but dignity and opportunity for every child.
Children from St Bernadette’s Children’s Centre happily spend time playing together. Photo: Fr Tim Mulroy SSC
Over time, it has become increasingly clear that responding to abuse is not enough. Prevention is essential. This insight gave rise to the Schools Outreach Programme, the fourth pillar of St Bernadette’s mission.
Through this initiative, the Association works directly within local schools, offering training for teachers, parents and students on child protection and the rights of the child. The programme is also establishing child protection teams within schools, empowering communities to take responsibility for safeguarding their children. This reflects the Columban vision of working in partnership with local communities to bring about lasting change.
Today, St Bernadette’s stands as far more than a single project. It is a living expression of the Columban missionary spirit, a multi-faceted mission working to ensure that every child has access to justice, education and a life free from violence.
The impact is profound. Hundreds of children have been rehabilitated from the trauma of sexual abuse and returned to families better equipped to protect them. Hundreds more have been guided back into education, given a renewed opportunity to shape their future. Thousands of families have received support, guidance and accompaniment in navigating systems that often feel beyond their reach.
Yet the need remains urgent. The Residential Home continues to carry a heavy responsibility. With no ongoing Government support for the children’s daily needs, St Bernadette’s relies on the generosity of donors to provide food, education, healthcare and therapeutic care. Every contribution directly supports children who have already endured more than any child should.
In a world where the dignity of the most vulnerable is too often overlooked, St Bernadette’s Children’s Centres offer a different story, a story of compassion, resilience and hope, rooted in the Columban mission to bring justice, healing and dignity to all.
Columban Fr Tony Coney lives and works in Peru.
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - June 2026
