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Author: Subject: MISSION SAN BORJA: Fire burns the Gerardo home
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[*] posted on 8-18-2026 at 01:09 PM


From Google:

To get the Catholic Church to help or pay for rebuilding the caretaker's (custodio) home that burned down at Misión San Borja in Baja California, you must contact the regional diocese responsible for that remote area, which is the Diócesis de Ensenada. Because remote historical missions in Baja often rely on informal caretaker arrangements rather than formal, salaried employee contracts, getting institutional funding requires direct negotiation and community advocacy.

Steps to Request Church Assistance

Contact the Local Diocese:
Reach out directly to the Diocese of Ensenada (Diócesis de Ensenada), under Bishop Rafael Valdez Torres, which holds ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the territory of San Borja. Call them at +52 646 176 3780 or visit their office at Av. Revolución #782 in Ensenada.

Establish Formal Recognition:
Provide proof or testimony that the family (such as Doña Ana and the Gerardo family) acts as the official, long-term authorized custodians of the mission property, protecting a historical asset of the Church.

Appeal to the Heritage/Property Commissions:
Ask the diocese to route the request through their Commission for Sacred Art and Cultural Patrimony (Comisión de Arte Sacro y Bienes Culturales), as Misión San Borja is an irreplaceable stone-built Jesuit/Dominican historical landmark.

Alternative and Parallel Relief Efforts

Coordinate with Local Aid:
Because bureaucratic church funding through rural Mexican dioceses can be slow, local Baja communities and visitors have already set up immediate assistance and collection centers (centros de acopio) near Hotel Los Caracoles and via regional groups to gather building supplies, food, and direct economic aid for the family.

Engage Organized Fundraisers:
Grassroots networks (such as regional Baja historical and traveler groups) frequently organize verified drives and GoFundMe campaigns specifically designated for the San Borja caretakers' recovery.
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David K
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[*] posted on 8-18-2026 at 02:03 PM


That's amazing... I will forward it (maybe translated) to the people in Mexico involved.



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[*] posted on 8-18-2026 at 03:29 PM


Thanks David.

I hope the request is well received by the Church.
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royelio17
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[*] posted on 8-18-2026 at 03:41 PM
Fist GOfundme deposit to Familia Gerardo (Ana Licia)


Hello guys, David told me about this topic several days ago, but I didn't have the time or the brains to find my username. I finally found it. Okay, so about the Catholic Church—I will definitely get in contact with Monseñor Eduardo Ackerman, who was there for like 20 years or so and knows everyone well. Or even reach out to the Diocese directly. Monseñor and I are friends, but he suffered some injuries yesterday, so I have to wait a few days.

I started a GoFundMe effort for the recovery of Gerardo's family. Today was the first deposit for them, for about 2,370.44 pesos.

The total received until today from international and national deposits is somewhere near 4,282 pesos, if I recall correctly, so we have a lot of road ahead of us for whoever wants to donate.

The link for the GoFundMe campaign is:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/mision-san-borja-fire-recovery-fund-for-gate-keepers

If anyone is wondering, "Who's this guy?"—I host the Sierra San Pedro Mártir Group on Facebook and the followers page (something like 90k members on both) for information purposes. I'm the guy who got stuck in the sand towards San Borja and couldn't make it, and was helped by this family, and I am truly grateful to them.

Some deposits have been received by Ana Licia (I don't know if Nonnih has) directly through their Banco Azteca account, but nobody from the north, as she stated, has been able to help—maybe or not, I don't know. I started this campaign for the international deposits because I saw some people mentioned that they couldn't deposit directly.

So let me know if someone else can cooperate with the cause—if not with cash, then with canned food or construction stuff for their adobe house, which they have cleaned so far. It would be great to get a team of donors and drive down over there to give them what we can gather together.

Heres the aftermath of the fire. they are cleaning little by little

https://youtube.com/shorts/A8nybzKbq78?si=OZAmHsUPJE6WH37C

Rogelio Serrano aka "Roger"
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Only whatsapp messages because the number is public...
Also regular text messages is fine

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[*] posted on 8-18-2026 at 03:43 PM


Deposit for today

https://i.postimg.cc/Lhd8XQXJ/deposito-analicia-18-8-2026.jp...
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[*] posted on 8-19-2026 at 09:37 AM


Thank you so much, Roger (royelio17) for all that you have done and giving the Baja Nomads this information.:light::biggrin:



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[*] posted on 8-19-2026 at 11:35 AM


Its a Pleasure David hope that more and more people get involved.
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[*] posted on 8-19-2026 at 11:48 AM


Update!

A group of good samaritans have filled a truck with materials and drove yesterday or today to the Mission, Raul Lyle posted it in Facebook in the Baja Overlanding group. From what Ive seen in the images they carrying 2x4's, 2x6's, cement, some furniture an other articles that I dont recognize, bed matress, and sheet rock or plywood sheets. Let me know if you know of a donation center to grab the megafone!
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[*] posted on 8-19-2026 at 01:20 PM


Quote: Originally posted by royelio17  
Update!

A group of good samaritans have filled a truck with materials and drove yesterday or today to the Mission, Raul Lyle posted it in Facebook in the Baja Overlanding group. From what Ive seen in the images they carrying 2x4's, 2x6's, cement, some furniture an other articles that I dont recognize, bed matress, and sheet rock or plywood sheets. Let me know if you know of a donation center to grab the megafone!


Wonderful!
Here are the photos, on Raul's page (that he shared on Baja Overlander group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/2880928922142922/user/549196...




"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


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[*] posted on 8-22-2026 at 07:46 AM
Donation


Quote: Originally posted by royelio17  
Its a Pleasure David hope that more and more people get involved.

Roger - we made a donation on that fundme a few days ago - would you please advise if it has been received? Thank you for spearheading this. Lori




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biggrin.gif posted on 8-22-2026 at 12:21 PM


Hello Lory I’ve just arrived from fishing and haven’t slept if you have the proof of the deposit then it means that it went true I believe seeing Lory and ? User or the name somewhere but I’ve been busy my apologies. What can you expect from Baja :biggrin::biggrin: pure pleasure! Let me recover and I’ll let you know in a couple of hours
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[*] posted on 8-22-2026 at 12:24 PM


Quote: Originally posted by CaboMagic  
Quote: Originally posted by royelio17  
Its a Pleasure David hope that more and more people get involved.

Roger - we made a donation on that fundme a few days ago - would you please advise if it has been received? Thank you for spearheading this. Lori


Found it!!!! It went true
6300 ish and counting guys!

Thank you for being in contact
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