History

Amigos de Jesús, an orphanage in Honduras, is situated on 200 acres of rural farmland. It was founded in 1997 by a Honduran nun, Sister Teresita, a North American lay couple, Christine and Anthony Granese, and an Archdiocesan Philadelphia priest, Father Dennis O’Donnell.  Since then, our community has grown to support more than 60 children on-site at our orphanage and to financially support more than 350 children within various parts of Honduras as well as in Guyana and Tanzania.

• 1994: Anthony Granese builds the orphanage, Finca del Nino, in Honduras and is joined by his future wife, Christine.

• 1996: Fr. Dennis O’Donnell meets Sr. Teresita on a visit to Finca del Nino and is told of a great need for an orphanage in the Santa Barbara area of Honduras.

• 1997: In May, Christine and Anthony, on their honeymoon in Honduras, meet with Sr. Teresita and along with Dennis O’Donnell decide to build an orphanage for boys to complement Sr. Teresita’s orphanage for girls. Construction begins in September. Children immediately begin to walk into their new home, living in makeshift housing.

• 1998: Land is farmed with corn and beans which are used to feed neighboring villages after the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.

• 1999: The first residence for children and administration/residence buildings are completed and filled immediately with children.

• 2000: Cows, horses, goats, pigs and other animals become part of the community.

• 2001: A 25-foot cross is completed at the top of the hill, visible for miles, symbolizing the motto of Amigos de Jesús – “Follow the Cross and you will find Hope”.

• 2002: Welding and carpentry shops are equipped with machinery.

• 2005: The chapel and volunteer center are completed.

• 2006: The bilingual school is built.

• 2008: The computer lab is built and the library receives a donation of books.

• 2010: Construction begins on new residences for an additional 120 children.