Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage

After serving as a missionary for four years, Shannon Todd will be moving on from Project Mexico. Her sacrifice for the Church and our boys has truly been filled with Christ’s love. We are so happy for your and Joshua Rognstad’s upcoming marriage. May God give you both a beautiful family and a fruitful ministry.

A new young man has joined St. Innocent Orphanage and two cuties have joined Casa Cuna. ❤️❤️❤️Thank God we got you!!! May God bless them and please pray with us as they settle into their new home. 🙏🏾

The first week of Homebuilding is complete! We are so blessed at Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage to have such a great team. I am truly grateful for Fr. John Mahfouz leading a trip from Torrance, CA. Also the group from New York worked so hard. May God continue to shower us with such dedicated disciples of the Lord.

🎙️NEW Stories of Hope episode out now! This week, host speaks with Panayiota Veronis about her past experience during the summer as a Homebuilding Intern as well as the excitement of spending this coming summer in Mexico and other opportunities for youth and young adults in the Orthodox Church. You can hear how Project Mexico impacted her life, but also catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be involved in summer camps and youth leadership programs.

🎧 Check it out at projectmexico.org/podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Thank God - we’ve been busy welcoming 2 new boys and a baby! May God bless them and please pray with us as they settle into their new home. 🙏🏾❤️

The interns are here! Today is the first work day and they start with the infamous panels! We can’t wait for build groups to get here and you all to be down here with us.

Welcome 2024 Summer Interns!!! 💚🤍❤️

Thank YOU all those who have already purchased items from our Amazon Needs List towards our homebuilding needs this summer! 🎉🏠🔨 Our interns are starting to arrive and we are preparing to host hundreds of volunteers in the construction of homes for families in need starting NEXT WEEK! If you’d like to contribute, there are some practical ways you can still participate by providing snacks for lunches, tools, first aid or safety supplies for our program this summer. Purchase needs on our Amazon Current Needs List 👉🏾 https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/66RTFBU51YH3

¡¡¡Cristo a Resucitado!!! We hope you all enjoyed your Pascha as much as we did. With egg hunts, gifts, and multiple feasts the day passed and we can’t wait for next year!

We are preparing to host hundreds of volunteers in the construction of homes for families in need in just a few weeks! There are some practical ways you can participate by providing lunches, gatorade, tools or safety supplies for our program this summer. Check out 👉🏾 our Amazon Current Needs List link: https://buff.ly/4aWQJkw

As we approach Pascha/Easter may the Lord’s sacrifice transform us so our hearts can rise with Him.

Join us NEXT Thursday at 5:00 PM PT for our FINAL webinar of the season! Don't forget to RSVP here 👉 projectmexico.org/force-initiative

Fr. Demetrios grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a small Antiochian Church in the countryside. He attended school at Hellenic College and in 2014 received a degree in religious studies with hopes of continuing on to seminary in the future. He met his wife Sophia at Hellenic College. Taking a break from their schooling, Fr. Demetrios and Pres. Sophia moved to St. Innocent Orphanage and worked together as the work trip coordinator from 2014 to 2016. With many tears, they left the orphanage. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, they studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as a seminarian. Fr. Demetrios graduated with his Masters of Divinity in 2019. After college, he served for three years as the Pastoral Assistant and chanter at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox in Wheeling, West Virginia, and in 2022 moved back to the orphanage with the invitation of Fr. Nicholas Andruchow. After many conversations about the best path forward, he was ordained a priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignacio of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Mexico in November of 2022 and continues to serve as “Resident Priest” at the orphanage.

Join us ✨Thursday, May 9, 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time✨

Webinars are free and open to the public. Please RSVP to attend 👉🏾 projectmexico.org/force-initiative

The FOrCE, an initiative of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage, Hellenic College Holy Cross and Leadership 100, offers a comprehensive understanding of the many opportunities available in pursuing vocations in the Church and higher education through the esteemed HCHC graduates, seminarians, and priests.

Blessed Holy Unction to our Project Mexico family!! We are feeling holy week down here, and are all excited to celebrate on Sunday. There are lots of treats and sweets that are planned for the boys and a beautiful feast is being prepared!! Stay tuned for those photos!!