The Catholic Charities Appeal was founded in 1941 by Archbishop Beovich. It is a Diocesan Appeal to help people in our community.

Originally the Appeal was established to support the four orphanages in the Diocese:

• The Orphanage of St Vincent de Paul originally founded in 1866 and transferred to Goodwood in 1888 under the care of the Sisters of Mercy.
• St Joseph’s Orphanage Largs Bay which was founded in 1903 under the care of the Sisters of St Joseph.
• The industrial Home for Boys at Brooklyn Park. About this time it became known as Boys Town and was under the direction of the Brothers of St John the Baptist.
• The Foundling Home for infants in association with the Refuge at Wattle Street, Fullarton, was run by the Sisters of St Joseph until 1963 when the Daughters of Charity took over.
  It has now become Louise Place.
  (The Refuge was founded by Mother Mary MacKillop in 1868 and moved to Fullarton in 1901).

As social circumstances changed, so too did the approach in caring for children in need. The large orphanages were closed and children were cared for in family-type homes.

This and other factors led to an increase in the number of Catholic welfare agencies providing for the different needs of children and families. A call for increased giving to the Catholic Diocesan Charities Appeal was made. Archbishop Gleeson was then able to include these other agencies in the Appeal.