Casa Cuna San Felipe: The Only Orthodox Infant Orphanage in North America
A loving home for babies and toddlers in Mexico who need it most. Give, serve, or pray alongside us.
Casa Cuna San Felipe (also called the Casa Cuna Infant Orphanage) is the infant and toddler orphanage of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage in Baja California, Mexico, and the only Orthodox infant orphanage in North America. It gives babies and toddlers who need a safe home the loving, attentive care, healthy attachment, and development they would otherwise be denied. Casa Cuna was created with support from Project Mexico's Board of Directors and the Phillip Giannakis Foundation, and it depends on donors, prayer, and faithful Orthodox Christian caregivers who serve for several months to two years. Casa Cuna is not an adoption agency; adoptions in Mexico are handled by the government's DIF.
These little ones bring joy to the entire ranch, whether through a simple walk, a Sunday Liturgy, or a three-day love affair with bananas. But caring for them takes many hands and open hearts. We need faithful Orthodox Christians to commit to [six months, one year, or two years] to love these orphaned babies. Whether you are soothing a fussy baby, helping with diaper changes, or simply offering a warm presence, your time and care will make an incredible difference.
What to expect
You will live and work in Mexico alongside fellow caregivers for 12 months and up to two years
You will love and care for infants and toddlers day to day
You will serve on a mission ranch with two orphanages, a homebuilding program, and a growing parish
You will raise your own financial support through partner missionary organizations [name them]
If you feel called to serve, please join us. Come witness the beauty of Christ's love in the smallest among us.
What Every Child at Casa Cuna Receives
A loving, attentive home, not just a crib and a feeding schedule
Opportunities for healthy attachment with consistent, caring adults
Support for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development
A place in the life of the ranch, from simple walks to Sunday Liturgy
Some children stay for a few days and others for a few months. Each one, as our caregivers say, teaches us something about patience, love, and faith.
Five Ways to Help Casa Cuna
Give. Your gift keeps the lights on and the pantry full, and it lets us expand this ministry and continue to serve the needy of Tijuana.
Serve as a caregiver. Faithful Orthodox Christians are needed to love these babies, whether for six months, one year, or two years. See the next section.
Give monthly. Become a Faithful Friend, and your steady gift gives the nursery stability it can plan around.
Send supplies. Start a Pantry Partners drive or shop an Amazon Needs List to stock the shelves.
Pray. Keep the babies, caregivers, and staff in your prayers. Constant prayer sustains this ministry.
Become a Casa Cuna San Felipe Caregiver
"Casa Cuna remains a place of love, laughter, and transformation. Every child who comes through our doors, whether for a few days or a few months, is an opportunity to share Christ's light and to see it reflected in their joyful faces." - Julia Paresenios, Casa Cuna caregiver and OCMC missionary
What is Casa Cuna San Felipe?
Casa Cuna San Felipe is the infant and toddler orphanage of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage in Baja California, Mexico. It is the only Orthodox infant orphanage in North America, and it provides a loving, attentive home for babies and toddlers who need one.
Why was Casa Cuna created?
After visiting a government shelter nursery where babies lay in rows of bassinets and no one heard them cry, Project Mexico's team saw the need for a place where infants receive far more than basic care. Neglect in the earliest years of life has severe, lifelong effects, and Casa Cuna was created to give children a loving home and the chance to form healthy attachments.
What do the children at Casa Cuna receive?
Children at Casa Cuna receive a loving and attentive home and opportunities for healthy attachment and for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development, rather than only the basic necessities. Some children stay for a few days and others for a few months.
Who supports Casa Cuna?
Casa Cuna was created with support from Project Mexico's Board of Directors and generous donations from the Phillip Giannakis Foundation. It continues through gifts from donors, the prayers of supporters, and the service of caregivers.
How can I help Casa Cuna?
You can give a gift to Casa Cuna, serve as a caregiver, become a monthly donor through Faithful Friends, send supplies through Pantry Partners or the Amazon Needs Lists, and keep the children, caregivers, and staff in your prayers.
How do I become a Casa Cuna caregiver?
Contact Presbytera Merilynn at presmerilynn@projectmexico.org. Casa Cuna is looking for faithful Orthodox Christians who will live and work in Mexico alongside fellow caregivers for 12 months up to two years.
Are Casa Cuna caregivers paid?
Caregivers are responsible for raising their own financial support through partner missionary organizations. Contact Presbytera Merilynn at presmerilynn@projectmexico.org to learn how the process works.
What do Casa Cuna caregivers do?
Caregivers love and care for orphaned babies and toddlers: soothing a fussy baby, helping with diaper changes, and offering a warm, steady presence. Caregivers live and serve on a mission ranch that includes two orphanages, a homebuilding program, and a growing parish.
Can I adopt a baby from Casa Cuna?
Casa Cuna is not an adoption agency and cannot guarantee that the adoption process through Mexico's Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF) will end with a family receiving a specific child, or even a baby from the Casa Cuna nursery. Each child has a unique situation, legal process, and timeline. Some children are adoptable, but the process is handled by the DIF Federal Authority in Mexico. For more information, email infants@projectmexico.org.
Is my donation to Casa Cuna tax-deductible?
Yes. Casa Cuna is a ministry of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN 33-0521448). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
How is Casa Cuna related to St. Innocent Orphanage?
Casa Cuna San Felipe and St. Innocent Orphanage are the two orphanages of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage. Casa Cuna cares for infants and toddlers, and St. Innocent Orphanage provides a home and education for school-age children. The ministry also runs a homebuilding program and a parish on the same ranch.
How do I contact Casa Cuna?
For questions about Casa Cuna, email infants@projectmexico.org. You can also call the Project Mexico office at 619-426-4610 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Pacific).