St. James was born from a shared concern: many young people want to study, work, and build a better future, but they do not have the guidance, resources, or support network they need to move forward.
This reality is especially difficult for those who enter adulthood after growing up in residential care or without a stable family environment. At this important stage of life, many must face decisions about education, housing, employment, and their future on their own.
In response to this reality, we decided to walk alongside them.
St. James grew from the shared commitment of Brother John Paul Tran, Stefani Mostacedo, and Omar Kucharsky, who recognized the need to create a community capable of supporting young people beyond temporary assistance.
From the beginning, the vision was to provide whole-person formation: accompaniment that would help each young person continue their education, strengthen their character, develop essential life skills, and discover a deeper sense of purpose.
But before creating programs, we decided to listen.
During our first steps, we spoke with young people, directors and staff of residential care homes, Church leaders, and others committed to addressing this reality.
In April 2026, we conducted more than fifteen interviews with young people who shared their aspirations, difficulties, and hopes with us. These conversations helped us understand that many needed more than a scholarship or a place to live. They needed guidance, stability, positive relationships, and a community that believed in them.
We also began building relationships with three residential care homes in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
Hogar Santa Cruz – Amigonians
Hogar Barrio Juvenil – Don Bosco
Hogar José Mercado Aguado – La Salle
These relationships marked the beginning of a mission built through listening, collaboration, and respect for the work that other institutions are already carrying out on behalf of young people.
With the guidance and support of the local Church, we began preparing our first space in Plan 3000, one of the areas of Santa Cruz de la Sierra with significant social needs.
This became St. James House – Dominican Sisters, the first house in our community and the place where this mission began to take shape.
The property was gradually prepared to offer spaces for study, shared life, meals, prayer, and rest. We were not simply creating a student residence. We wanted to build a safe, family-like environment where young people could feel supported as they moved toward an independent adult life.
During this first stage, we also welcomed our first university student, a young man who had grown up in residential care and needed support to continue his education.
His arrival transformed a vision into a concrete responsibility.
St. James House is more than a student residence. It is a community with a family spirit.
Through daily life together, young people learn to manage their time, care for shared spaces, take responsibility, and build positive relationships.
Study, work, prayer, and service are all part of life in the house. Each of these dimensions helps strengthen responsibility, discipline, solidarity, and character.
Our purpose is not only to help young people earn a degree. We seek to walk alongside them as they become responsible, independent adults who are prepared to contribute to the good of others.
St. James House – Dominican Sisters is only the beginning.
Our vision is to establish new St. James Houses in other communities, especially in urban areas where young people face significant needs and have limited access to strong support networks.
Each house will be called to serve as a local center of formation and accompaniment, led by a mentor couple who will guide young people through their presence, encouragement, and example of life.
These houses will be able to build connections with residential care homes, educational institutions, faith communities, employers, volunteers, and benefactors to create opportunities adapted to the needs of each community.
The first steps of St. James have been possible because of the people and institutions who have shared their time, experience, prayers, generosity, and trust.
We know that there is still much work ahead. Yet we believe that every young person who receives support represents a new possibility for their family, their community, and society.
Our story is just beginning, and we hope that many people will walk alongside us in this mission.
Primary button: Discover Our First Steps
Secondary button: Walk with Us