Founded by Sister Immaculata in 2003, the San Jose Technical Center is a two-floor training institute designed to teach adults the practical skills that will get them hired in their communities.
The first floor teaches sewing and dressmaking, hairdressing, silk screening, and bakery — including production facilities. The second floor, completed in 2009, houses a computing center, shoemaking (a major industry in the region), cooking, and pastry making.
The San Jose complex — which includes the Technical Center, a Children's Library, and a Chapel — was built with funds from the Sisters of Mercy, The Father's Table, St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton, the Ray and Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust, Ministry donors, and a family in Ireland.
We had a good year on the first floor — 98 students in all. Bakery is going very well: ten people employed. We made lots of panettones for Christmas and our oven was used by many families for their Christmas bird. The second floor now has a production room for sewing, a room to teach cooking, a classroom for computers, and one for shoemaking. — Sister Immaculata
The site of the future San Jose Technical Center
Construction begins in 2006
First phase near completion
Inauguration ceremony in 2006