Fall Family Picnic

This year Amigos de Jesus will host a Family Picnic for our benefactors and friends.  Bring your family to meet our family.  Boys from Honduras will be in attendance as well as our new Directors.  

When: Sunday, September 18, 2011 

Mass at 12:30

Picnic & Family Games 1:30-5:00

Where: Sister of the Holy Redeemer

Immaculate Conception Province

Provincialate

521 Moredon Road

Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

Testimonial - Michael Pascarella, Jr.

 

Susan and I have had a total of four foster children from Amigos over the last 11 years. One of them was Cristian Armando . Cristian was/is a wonderful boy with a big, bright smile that reaches from ear to ear.

In September of 2006, you held a benefit dinner at the Bellevue Hyatt in Philadelphia. As you often did, you were able to bring a few children up from Honduras to spend a few days in the United States, and to meet their Padrinos at this dinner. Cristian was one of those children that year. After walking through the crowded room for several minutes, Susan and I found Cristian. We were all so happy to finally meet, but there was a problem...Cristian did not speak English, and I spoke very little Spanish. We tried to communicate for several minutes without success, and both of us became frustrated. Then I had an idea. I bent down so that I was eye-level with Cristian. I patted my chest and said, "Cristian, sono padrino." (I am your godfather). Then I opened my arms. Cristian smiled bright as the sun and literally jumped into my arms. I gave him a big hug, and then somehow (mainly through hand signals) we promised that we would pray to God for each other every day. In that way, we would always be connected.

That was the only time I saw Cristian, and it will probably be the only time that I will ever see him, as he has since returned to his family. But in order for Cristian and I to remain connected on a horizontal plain across the miles, we had to connect ourselves to God in prayer. When I tell this story live, I form a triangle with hand motions. My point being that for Cristian and I to remain connected, we must allow ourselves to be drawn up into the action of the Trinity.

Peace,

Mike

Testimonial - Sandy Ciccaglione

I was very lucky and blessed one day at my church.  We had a guest speaker...Father Dennis who after about 5 minutes had me in tears by telling us about the former struggles of the children who came to the Amigos de Jesus Orphanage.  I have sponsored Yadira since she was 8, I think... and she is now 13.   I have had the greatest opportunity to see her grow up into a lovely young lady.  I believe God put me in that church at that time for me to be a sponsor.  My hope is someday we will meet.  The cost is so small... but so great....we waste more money buying coffee or lunch with nothing to show for it.  I have pictures and art work hanging in my office of Yadira and I think of her every day.   I'm humbled and I feel  privileged to be part of an organization that gives hope, love, education and the gift of our Lord to these children...if only the rest of the world would catch on.

Yours truly,

Sandy Ciccaglione

~Donation Collection ~

Amigos de Jesus is collecting donations this summer to send to the orphanage!  We are collecting the following items:

Summer Clothes - all boys & girls sizes, mens sizes small & medium

Shoes - all boys & girls sizes

Bikes & Scooters

Sports Equipment

Fans - oscillating, free standing, ceiling (it's hot in Honduras!)

Please contact our office in Malvern (610-644-8237) to schedule a drop-off time OR coordinate a collection at your church, office or school!  As we grow our capacity we need a lot of donations for the children!  Thank you for your continued support and care. 

~Save the Date~

Amigos de Jesus

Fall Family Picnic

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Come out to our Fall Family Picnic and meet some of the boys from Honduras!  We are hosting a family picnic for all of our benefactors and friends.  The day will begin with Mass by Fr. Den followed by lunch, games, fun and more!  Bring your family to meet our family.  Thank you to everyone that has worked to make Amigos de Jesus a loving home for boys in need.

Stepping Stones to the Cross

The Amigos de Jesus property has a tall white cross that sits high on a hill.  This cross can be seen for miles and  is a beacon to the surrounding area.  The motto of our organization is "Follow the Cross and you will find Hope." This motto has been a reminder to all of us involved with the organization to seek out the cross, or Jesus Christ, and in him we will find hope.  Some of the children that now live at Amigos de Jesus literally followed this Cross to find our home for boys.  This home became their hope.  It became their home and it became their family.  Their path to the Cross, to Jesus Christ and to a renewed life at Amigos de Jesus is symbolized in our motto and by this Cross. 

As we begin a new chapter at Amigos de Jesus with a construction project that will triple our current size, we extend an invitation to our benefactors to be part of this project.  We are making a pathway to this Cross out of 'Stepping Stones' that are being made by the children, engraved with our benefactors' names.  This path is a symbol of the journey that our boys have traveled and that we all have traveled in our lives as we strive to Follow the Cross.  Please contact our office to receive more information on how you can purchase a 'Stepping Stone' and become a part of this historic project at Amigos de Jesus. 

Construction Begins!

Amigos de Jesus is proud to annouce that construction has begun on new dormitories that will grow our capacity to three times it current size.  This will also allow us to bring girls to our care and reunite siblings that have been divided.  Ubil Landaverde, Director of Development, will be heading the construction project along with a group of engineers from the US.  Thank you for your prayers as we take on this huge project.  More details will come as building gets underway!