Service in Guatemala

For nine days this month, 20 Jesuit students accompanied by three chaperones renewed an extraordinary service immersion mission trip to Guatemala City.

From July 7-16, the Jesuit contingent reconnected with the children of Orfanato Valle de Los Angeles – the Valley of the Angels orphanage on the outskirts of the capital city of Guatemala, which is also the largest city in Central America. The facility serves at-risk youth, many who have endured horrible trauma, by providing them with safety, schooling, medical and psychological support, and an invitation to follow Jesus.

The Jesuit students supported that mission, following in the footsteps of their brothers from the previous two summers who together have made the Guatemala mission trip a staple of Jesuit's summer service. In addition to working daily with the children of the orphanage, the students immersed themselves in several projects, including facility maintenance, assisting the dental and medical clinic, preparing meals, leading daily tutoring and homework sessions, and celebrating Mass.

Led by Jesuit teachers/chaperones Mr. Giovanni Diaz, S.J., Nayvi Hernandez, and Randolph Davidson, the students also had the opportunity to explore the rich history of Antigua, including a visit to the tomb of Saint Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, the first saint of Guatemala and Central America, inside the Church of San Francisco. While exploring the city, the students sharpened their Spanish-speaking skills, engaging with locals at the markets.

It was another impactful service trip for Jesuit students, continuing the tradition of faith, service, and leadership. Earlier this summer, Jesuit students participated in service immersion mission trips to Belle Glade and to South Dakota, as well as the two-week European Pilgrimage. 

The 'Men for Others' who uplifted the Valley of the Angels from July 7-16 were Austin Allen '26, Diego Alvarado-Borjas '26, Robert Bogle '26 (his third straight mission trip to Guatemala), A.J. Brazel '27, Kenneth Brown '26, Daylen Cartwright '27, Diego Contreras '26, Pablo Cooney '27, Georgie Dovin '27, Jaime Flores-Sanchez '27, Andrew Iler '27, Gabriel Janer '26, Ronan Krummrich '26, Lane Maynard '26, Weston McCarthy '26, Alexander Schellman '27, Nate Shehata '27, Rafael Tionko '26, Matthew Valero '27, and Andrew Weber '26, along with chaperones Davidson, Hernandez, and Diaz.