Story

Archangel Raphael Ministry began its special needs service 14 years ago, serving special needs families throughout the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Southern US and beyond. A yearly special needs convention was help at the St. Stephen Retreat Center, Titusville Florida every summer. Through this service, it became quite evident that parents and families of special needs angels were very concerned about housing options, especially those parents that were aging and worried about care for their loved one when they could no longer continue this challenging task.

It became abundantly clear that this special needs ministry needed to answer the next level of calling; permanent housing and care of these special needs individuals, who are the ‘angels’ that God has entrusted to our care.

Archangel Raphael Ministry Center was formed, with God’s grace and blessing. Father Joachim Boutros and his team began the daunting task of creating a warm, loving, caring home, on the property of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Fort Myers, Florida. Plans, licensing, and all that is required to build, run and maintain this home are underway and God willing will be complete by end of 2026.