We have 8 spots available for this trip! 

Apply via the scholarship application linked below by October 31st, 2026 (email to Megan Wittmeyer at [email protected]). If you do NOT need financial aid, ONLY complete the essay part of the application. 

Guatemala scholarship application
Guatemala scholarship budget template

Arrival and Departure

• Arrival: Monday, January 11, 2027 by 1:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City by 1:00 p.m.
• Transportation: Mission staff will transport the group by van between the airport and San Lucas Mission (~3 hour drive).
• Departure: Saturday, January 16, 2027 after 3:00 p.m. Mission staff will transport the group back to the airport in time for flights after 3:00 p.m. Please plan your flight accordingly.

Cost and Financial Aid

• Meals and lodging are provided by the mission for $90 per day ($450 total). 
• You can apply for coverage of the trip expenses ($450) and reimbursement of up to $500 for your plane ticket. Maximum amount of aid is $950. 
• You are responsible for booking your own flight and purchasing travelers insurance. 
• Financial aid applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis, with a deadline of October 31, 2026. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to receive the amount of aid you need to make the trip possible!

Itineray

• The mission has provided a sample itinerary (see below). Activities may include construction projects, gardening and landscaping, and other opportunities to engage with the San Lucas community.
• We anticipate attending Mass with the students on Wednesday morning and adoration on Thursday. We may also be able to visit the Fr. Stanley Rother Chapel. Fr. Stanley was a missionary priest who served in Guatemala and was martyred during his ministry.

Registration and Confirmation

• Final registration for the trip will be confirmed by submitting plane tickets and proof of passport by November 6, 2026. Cornell students should be able to send these documents to Megan Wittmeyer [email protected] via Cornell Secure File Transfer.

For an exhaustive source of information on the trip, check out the pre-trip orientation slides, which we will also review as a group after registration is finalized. 

Please reach out to Megan Wittmeyer at [email protected] if you have any questions. We hope you'll join us for this opportunity to learn, grow in faith, and build meaningful relationships with the San Lucas community!

About the Mission

Founded by Fr. Greg Schaffer, a diocesan priest from Minnesota, San Lucas Mission is rooted in Catholic social teaching. The mission works to address extreme poverty through its mission hospital, school, home construction projects, and other community initiatives. You can learn more about their programs here. 

San Lucas approaches service as a learning and relationship building opportunity: “As guests, our role is not to ‘help’ Guatemalans or their society. Rather, we are here to learn from, accompany, and build relationships with San Lucas community members.”