"Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz was born on September 18, 1930, in Washington, DC, USA. He grew up with the idea of becoming a secular priest. He heard his calling to serve the Lord at a very young age and at 13, he entered the seminary. In 1944, at age 14, he entered St. Charles Seminary in Maryland, finished his B.A. Degree at Maryknoll College and studied his Theology at Louvain Catholic University in Belgium. He used to spend his vacation helping at the rag pickers’ camps for the derelicts of the French society. Visiting Banneux, where the Virgin of the Poor appeared, he was more inspired to dedicate his priesthood to the service of the poor in fulfillment of her message.
In 1957, he started his charity programs for the poor orphans in Korea. In 1983, due to great success, he extended his programs to the Philippines and in 1990 to Mexico. This would not have been possible without the congregation of the Sisters of Mary (also founded by him in 1964).In 1983 Schwartz was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award. In 1985, he started his charity programs in the Philippines. In 1989, he was diagnosed to have a terminal illness - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which he accepted with joy and serenity as a gift from God. In spite of his deteriorating health, he established Boystown and Girlstown in Mexico. With humility, courage, and unwavering faith, he suffered and accepted a lot of humiliations, criticisms, trials, pains, and difficulties, just to be able to serve and love God through the poor. His illness made him immobile but still even on a wheelchair, he continued to fulfill his duties with joy. He spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary, hearing confessions, and heroically preaching in words and examples the virtues of truth, justice, chastity, charity and humility. His love for God and the poor consumed him. He did not only help the poor but he also lived poorly.
On March 16, 1992, he breathed his last at the Girlstown in Manila and he was buried at the Boystown in Cavite, Philippines.
His name, many people may not know of, but this name, short and simple may it be, has made strong impact in my life. I was one of the underprivileged children, from the poorest of the poor, whom Fr. AL lovingly embraced and took care of through the Sisters of Mary Girlstown- Philippines. From a blurry future that I then have, He pushed me into the right direction, not only socially but most especially spiritually. I may not have had the chance to know him personally, but his words, have touched my being down to it’s realm. And as He wanted me to soar the heavens as He have always said "My children you are created not to be fat little ducks waddling in the mud but eagles destined to rise above and explore the kingdom of God." I would do at the best of my ability.
