In 1904, the Roman Catholic Mission in Parow was founded by the Right Reverend Bishop Rooney. In time a tin building was constructed on the Mission ground, which served as a church as well as a school. The Mission was entrusted to the special care and protection of St Monica, and from this patron its name was derived: St Monica’s Mission.In 1911 his Lordship secured two Holy Cross sisters to continue and develop the work of the Mission, Sister Jane Frances and Sister Bernadette. The need in the community saw a steady and gradual growth of services provided by The Mission on various locations in Cape Town.

The Sisters had their fair share of challenges to find a suitable (and permanent) location, from greedy landlords and sleeping in school dorms, to missing school teachers and unfit areas. Quoting from the history books: “Despite all that, the Sisters were always happy and cheerful, they had no fears and anxieties about robbers and thieves, for there was nothing to take. It seemed Parow was destined from the beginning as a place of impossibilities.” But we know how miracles work!

In June of 1918 a cottage was bought nearer to the church, and soon two more were added. The dreaded ‘Spanish Flu’ of 1918 saw a huge increase in vulnerable children in need of care, and at Christmas they were caring for 20 permanent orphans. The terror of the disease far exceeded normal conception, and the Sisters were looked upon as “rescuing angels”. More cottages were acquired and, amidst increasing services, “the importance of the Holy Cross at Parow began to assert itself with undeniable force.” At the end of 1919, there were 40 children in permanent care.

Until the facility was recognised by the State and registered as a Welfare Institution in 1923, the financing of the home was the sole responsibility of the Holy Cross Sisters.
Throughout the years buildings were rebuilt and our home has grown to make allowance to take care of the basic needs of our children, including therapeutic, developmental and recreational programmes.