What We Do

Each year, a group of approximately 22 Penn State students travel to Tijuana, Mexico for spring break. While there, we work on a construction project, visit the children at a local orphanage, and grow in our spirituality. In past years, we have worked on the renovation of older churches, the construction of a dental clinic, construction of a new church (spanning five years), and at various orphanages in the Tijuana area. The goal of the work is to put our time and effort into a project that supports the local community. We also spend a significant part of our time at the Casa Hogar de los Ninos Orphanage. There, we have the chance to share meals and interact with the children that call the orphanage home. Our initial outlook is that these children don't have much, but they have so much love and joy in their lives that material things do not matter. They are truly wonderful to know and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with them.

Finally, as part of the Catholic Campus Ministry at Penn State, we use this trip to grow in our relationship with God and each other. We hold prayer services and attend mass in Spanish alongside people of the local community and children from the orphanage. The service work and the time spent with the children make this trip an ideal time to reflect on God's role in our lives and the importance of using the gifts He has given us to help others.

The History of Mission Mexico

Mission Mexico started in the fall of 2001, an idea conceived by two seniors – Justin English and Katie Burkhart – with some help from advisor Deborah Bezilla. All three had gone on a mission trip to Haiti previously and in light of the safety concerns in a post 9/11 world, were looking at possibilities that were somewhat closer to home. After looking at a variety of Catholic organizations that offered mission trips, contact was made with Missionary Cenacle Volunteers (MCV) from New Jersey. Fr. Ray Riding of MCV worked in collaboration with a group from Anaheim, California known as L’Esperanza (hope). The group was involved in building and rehabbing churches in the Tijuana, Mexico area and was willing to provide the Penn Staters with a work supervisor and supplies. The first trip occurred in spring of 2002 with twelve students, two adults, and Fr. David Griffin, O.S.B. of Catholic Campus Ministry at Penn State. Our accommodations were at Hogar de los Ninos orphanage in Santa Julia de Pedragal colonia in Tijuana. In addition to the work projects, students have raised thousands of dollars to support the orphanage. They bring suitcases full of clothing, toys and school supplies each year for the children at Hogar de los Ninos. Since the inception of Mission Mexico, over 150 Penn State students have spent their spring break working on a building project, living at the orphanage, and growing in their spirituality. They have literally built Our Lady of the Angels Church from the ground up, working on the project over a five year period.

The History of Casa Hogar de los Niños Orphanage

The History of Casa Hogar de los Niños Orphanage and other information about this orphange can be found here.