Our History
Our heritage dates back to 1884, when Mother Clare (our very own Margaret Anna Cusack and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace) first came to these shores, seeking to help poor Irish women fleeing their famine-stricken homeland.

Serving the Blind
After successfully establishing her mission to help the women, Margaret Anna turned to helping the blind. In that time, the Blind were ostracized from society; either cast out onto the streets or living in isolation. She believed that the Blind were just like everyone else, deserving full and productive lives. Starting with 4 simple frame houses on our site, she focused on setting up a Home where the Blind men and women, adults and children would be cared for and taught how to be independent. This began with the Sisters identifying occupations that would enable the Blind to achieve financial independence and build self-esteem. The Nun's travels took them from Boston's Perkins Institute (where they learned broom and mattress making, caning and embroidery) to the prison in Trenton (where they learned mat-making and hemp weaving.) The Sisters then set up workshops in the Home, where the Blind could learn and practice these skills to not only receive the financial rewards, but also the increased self-esteem that arises from feeling self-sufficient.

The Word Spreads
Word quickly spread, passed along by grateful families and the local community. People flocked to join their mission. In 1900, the 5-story "St. Joseph's Home for the Blind" was erected. The population continued to swell, requiring the addition of another wing (nearly doubling the size of the Home) in 1915. Soon after, the Sisters had to open St. Joseph's School for the Blind, in order to meet the needs of the large number of children in their care.

Saving the Family
By the early 1970's the Sisters realized that the special needs of the Home's aging family required them to make a difficult decision: either they had to "break up the family" by transferring the residents to nursing home... or somehow keep their family intact by learning to take care of their own. Looking to the fearless example of Margaret Anna, they set out to obtain the skills and personnel needed to become a licensed skilled care nursing facility. The home thrived as word spread that the heritage of providing love, dignity and respect was now available to all. St. Joseph's Home for the Blind quickly grew to become one of the top non-profit facilities in the state of New Jersey.

Beginning Anew: the Margaret Anna Cusack Care Center
Shortly before the new Millennium, we realized that it was time for a change. Narrow rooms and hallways designed for sightless hands, not wheelchairs, must give way to broad corridors and colorful light-filled spaces. We embarked on a plan so ambitious, Margaret Anna would surely have approved: add 64,000 square feet and incorporate the latest advances in medical technology, without overwhelming the beauty and grace of our original structure. Enlist the aid of our grateful families and local community to help us raise the $22 million needed. In October 2002, the Margaret Anna Cusack Care Center at the Historic St. Joseph's Home for the Blind was dedicated. Our second century of caring was now underway!

The Care Center Today
We are a vibrant community with 139 residents and their families gathering here to share their lives together.