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In 1908, Father Louis Guanella established the Servants of Charity, an order of Catholic Priests and Brothers that continues his mission today. Through operations such as the St. Louis Center, the Guanellians serve the needs of special people and populations throughout the world. The philosophical basis for the mission is available in a book entitled the "Basic Document for the Guanellian Mission". This document was developed by the the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, the Servants of Charity, and Guanellian Cooperators and was published in 1995 by Editrice Nuove Frontiere.

This document was developed with the understanding that the basic assumptions and timeless history of Fr. Guanella remained valid but that there was a concrete need to offer educators a frame of reference to draft educational plans for distinct populations and differing cultures. Fr. Guanella himself expected his followers to keep up with the times, new educational theories and current needs. He recognized the need to develop a manual of the preventative educational system he developed. In this educational style, prevention is considered a prerequisite for the advancement of persons and communities. It consists in precluding any form of evil, physical or emotional regression, and of avoiding negative experiences. Keeping in mind the needs of the special population served by the St. Louis Center, prevention occurs by anticipating and possibly averting occasions of potential harm and promptly removing them.

In light of Christian revelation, every human being is made in the image and likeness of God, and is therefore a unique and unrepeatable individual, gifted with intelligence and will, capable of love and of relating to others. This gives each of us a dignity, and due to this dignity every person, regardless of limitations, deserves respect and an opportunity for improving his life. Each life, even those marked by sickness and poverty, is important and valuable. Each human person has the need to communicate, to give and receive attention, esteem and love, and to be an active member of a family and of a community. Those who suffer acquire a particular intensity of dignity, resembling Jesus Christ. In this way, they become our evangelizers and educators, eliciting our love. They can be considered a burden only when our love is lacking.

At the St. Louis Center, we strive to create a model home environment in which everyone is respected, appreciated and loved in his or her individuality. Daily life, with its problems and joys, its plans and resources, is shared in the enjoyment of being together. According to individual abilities and roles, all assume responsibility toward the realization of the common good.

The promotion of the whole person, according to each one's capabilities, is the main objective of our work. The physical safety and psychological welfare of the whole person is to be safeguarded, even when, humanly speaking, we cannot expect any improvement. In particular, we seek to guide each toward the formation of a good heart, capable of sincere and widespread acceptance of others, sensitive to needs and available for fraternal assistance. We are committed to a society in which no social group is left adrift, but in which all may be involved in the progress of civilization.

Education is not a mere sequence of actions performed according to a specific methodology aimed at the growth of the person. It is, rather, a desired and friendly relationship in which one offers another accompaniment in the learning of values as well as assistance for needs. Each responds to the other with stimuli capable of modifying the personality of the other. The educational process is therefore a path on which we proceed toward maturity together, and on which each of us crafts our own development.

Education is not only the fruit of human effort. It is also the work of divine grace. We believe it is precisely this grace which makes educational work potent. Education is also a social process, occurring within and through society. It is the inalienable right of every person, since it proceeds from each individual's dignity. The path of education is an effective possibility of growth for all, on which all human beings may walk toward their own realization.

Charity is the soul of the Guanellian educational system, a soul that moves us to seek out those in need and support them. In the word of St. Paul, charity believes anything, hopes for all things, bears everything. Educational principles that spring from this charity are: surround residents and each other with affection, offer diverse and adequate educational proposals, prevention of harm, encouragement, companionship, dedication to our cause, and trust in providence. The relationships developed through the process of education are works of the heart, and are therefore characterized by the inner dispositions of benevolence, evangelical compassion, and solicitude. These relationships are established through establishment of esteem and respect, trust and optimism, confidence and dialogue, simplicity, joy, gentleness and strength. They are brought to fruition in an environment infused with family spirit, commitment and serenity, morality and religion.

We do not seek to achieve our goals through unrealistic means. Rather than seeking to rely on "magic" moments or advancing technology, we encourage serene acceptance of personal situations rather than running from reality through seeking ideal conditions. We give preferential attention to the weakest among us and promote the active participation of all. The aim is to find the best solutions to life issues by working together. This approach requires openness to all ideas and cultures, and mutual respect. No one, therefore, rises to judge other philosophies or religions. We seek to become part of the society in which we live.

In our mission to provide care and comprehensive rehabilitation of handicapped persons, we are convinced that our residents possess a special inner richness, and we seek to guide them to psychological growth through recognizing the totality of the person, respecting their individuality, assisting them through gradual development and continuity in the formation of positive values and habits. Activities which support these goals are instruction, health training and rehabilitation, creative expression, recreation and sports, professional preparation, work experience and training, affective and emotional education, sex education, social education, moral education, and religious formation.

We seek to always promote human growth and unity, in our staff and our own lives as well as those of our residents. We believe that the witness of educational communities who live and work in harmony, although they have different mentalities and cultures, is the first contribution for a world of peace.