Guatemala Immersion Trip July 9 - 17, 2024
Encounter Christ in our Guatemalan sisters and brothers as you explore the breathtaking beauty of this fascinating Central American country, adorned with a chain of 27 volcanoes and known as the "Country of Eternal Spring." Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Mayan culture, where traditional dances, music, and religious rites endure in rural regions. Share meals and stories to learn how Guatemalans, especially from indigenous communities, overcome their challenges with faith and hope. Visit impactful programs and projects that address human rights, care of creation, gangs, and migration. Trip includes visits to Iximche, Panajachel and Antigua Guatemala.
On this immersion trip to Guatemala, we will visit:
- San Sebastian - Casa de la Memoria - Center for legal action and human rights that tells the history of Guatemala from the victim's point of view. We will learn about Bishop Juan Gerardi, coordinator of the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala, who released a historic study of human rights abuses in Guatemala, the work of the church's Recovery of Historical Memory project. Bishop Gerardi was murdered two days after the release of the historic report.
- The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Guatemala where Msgr. Gerardi is buried.
- Caminando por la Paz Project: a Catholic social movement that strives to respond to the values and charisma of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The center reaches out to young people who are at risk of gang behavior, drug addiction, etc. Their philosophy is based upon the four pillars of the Maryknoll Affiliates: Community, Spirituality, Global Vision, and Action.
- Iximche: Mayan archeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. Iximche was the capital of the Late Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524.
- City of Quetzaltenango also known by its Maya name Xelajú or Xela. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 7,640 feet above sea level. Will learn more about the Mayan spirituality from a Maryknoll Affiliate, and also learn about how Maryknoll affiliates work with programs against child labor.
- Panajachel, “Pana” is a town in the southwestern Guatemalan Highlands, in the department of Sololá. The town of Panajachel is located on the Northeast shore of Lake Atitlán, we will cross the lake by boat to visit other indigenous towns and villages accompanied by a Maryknoll Affiliate who lives in Santiago Atitlan.
- Antigua Guatemala, commonly known as Antigua or La Antigua, is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala. The city was the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1543 through 1773, with much of its Baroque-influenced architecture and layout dating from that period. These characteristics had it designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. There, we will visit the tomb of Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancurt (21 March 1626– 25 April 1667), also called Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt. He was a Spanish missionary in Guatemala. Known as the "Saint Francis of Assisi of the Americas", he is the first saint native to the Canary Islands, is also considered the first saint of Guatemala and Central America for having done his missionary work in those American lands.
- Casa Migrante, a place of hope for migrants in Guatemala. Casa Migrante provides assistance to migrants who are passing through, as well as asylum seekers, internally displaced people, deportees, and returnees from the United States and Mexico.
The immersion trip will also include:
- Orientation to the social, political, and economic realities of Guatemala
- Opportunities for prayer, liturgy and faith sharing
- Daily reflections and faith formation activities
- Ongoing missionary discipleship support and formation before, during, and after the trip
Participant requirements:
- Acceptance at Maryknoll’s discretion
- Participants must arrange and pay for their own air travel from the U.S. to Guatemala City - La Aurora International Airport and back during the designated time frame. In-country transportation will be provided during the trip.
- Accommodations and meals are provided
- Current passport with an expiration date exceeding at least 6 months from trip date and Visas as required. Check U.S. State website for more information.
- Suggested donation of $1,200 to cover trip costs (subject to change)
- Participants must sign a Travel Risk Agreement
- Non-refundable deposit of $100 due upon acceptance
- Limited scholarships are available for those unable to make the full donation
- Trips require a minimum number of participants to proceed
Visit https://www.maryknoll.us/mission-trips for more information or contact Zahira Sandoval at zsandoval@maryknoll.org or (773) 493-3367 ext.263
