Guatemala Mission & Catholic Pilgrimage
A Journey of Faith, Service, and Encounter

Join fellow pilgrims for a profound week of mission, prayer, and cultural encounter in the heart of Guatemala. This unique Catholic pilgrimage invites participants not only to visit sacred places but also to live the Gospel through service alongside vibrant local communities around San Lucas Tolimán and Lake Atitlán.

Mission Begins

Your journey begins with travel from Reno to Guatemala City, where the group is welcomed and transported to the mission center in San Lucas Tolimán. Nestled near the beautiful shores of Lake Atitlán, this community will be your home for the week. After settling into Hotel Iquitiu, pilgrims begin their spiritual preparation for the mission ahead.

Encountering the Local Church

The week opens with orientation and welcome by the local parish community of San Lucas and its pastor. Through prayer, formation talks, and Eucharistic adoration, pilgrims will be introduced to the mission and the communities they will serve.

Participants will then travel daily to nearby villages accompanied by local Catholic leaders. In small teams, pilgrims will visit families in their homes—listening to their stories, praying together, and sharing the love of Christ through presence and fellowship. These encounters provide a powerful opportunity for mutual evangelization, as missionaries and local families grow in faith together.

Each day is grounded in the rhythm of the Church: morning prayer, formation, Eucharistic adoration, Mass, and evening reflection. Evenings conclude with group debriefing and Compline, allowing pilgrims to prayerfully reflect on the grace of the day.

Pilgrimage to Santiago Atitlán

Midway through the journey, pilgrims will cross the breathtaking waters of Lake Atitlán by boat to the village of Santiago Atitlán. There, participants will walk in pilgrimage to the parish church and pray at the site of the martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Rother, the Oklahoma priest who gave his life serving the people of Guatemala during a time of persecution. Mass at the parish offers a powerful moment to reflect on missionary discipleship and sacrificial love.

Celebrating Faith with the Communities

Throughout the week, pilgrims participate in Masses, testimonies, and community gatherings that celebrate the living faith of the Guatemalan Church. Shared meals with local families and parish communities deepen friendships and offer a true taste of Guatemalan hospitality.

Sunday is a special day of worship with the local communities, including Eucharistic adoration and participation in parish Masses, followed by final visits and heartfelt farewells to the families who welcomed the mission teams.

Pilgrimage to Antigua

The mission concludes with a visit to the historic city of Antigua, one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas. Pilgrims will pray at the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande, home to the tomb of Saint Hermano Pedro, Central America’s first canonized saint and a beloved model of charity and service. Mass at the basilica and time to explore the cobblestone streets of Antigua provide a fitting spiritual and cultural conclusion to the journey.

A Life-Changing Experience

This mission pilgrimage offers more than travel—it is an invitation to deeper discipleship. Through prayer, service, and authentic encounter with the Church in Guatemala, participants return home renewed in faith, inspired by the witness of the people they meet, and challenged to continue living the mission of Christ in their daily lives.

Come ready to pray, to serve, and to be transformed.