Guatemala Mission

Serving Christ in Central America

In 1959, Pope Saint John XXIII gave renewed focus to the Church’s missionary work in Latin America. Due to the urgent need, often only one priest serving 15,000 to 20,000 Catholics, he called for priests and belivers to assist. One of the most pressing needs then and now is the formation of native clergy.

In 1965, Marmion Abbey responded to Pope John’s request by establishing a priory and minor seminary in Guatemala. The mission had three goals:

1.

To establish a Benedictine monastic community.

2.

To provide sacramental ministry, hospitality, and catechetical instruction to the local community.

3.

To serve the poor.

From 1965 to 1991, San José Priory and Seminary operated in the city and Diocese of Sololá. In 1991, the community and school relocated to Quetzaltenango.

In 2019, after 54 years of educating young men, the Minor Seminary closed due to financial constraints. In 2020, the monks opened the Saint Benedict Retreat Center in the same buildings. The center now hosts retreats and conferences for youth and adults.

In June 2024, three monks from the Abbey of Our Lady of the Angels in Cuernavaca, Mexico, joined the Priory community to support monastic life and local pastoral ministry in Quetzaltenango.

San José Spanish School

The San José Spanish School is located in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and is a fully accredited school for teaching the Spanish language for both men and women who work or will work in Hispanic ministry. It is open to major seminarians, priests, deacons, lay ministers, religious Ministers, and sisters who are 21 years of age or older.

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Support Our Mission Work
Given the great needs and poverty of the people served, we invite you to support the mission of the Benedictine community of San José.

To learn how you can help contact Abbot Joel Rippinger, OSB (630) 897-7215 ext 312 or Kathleen Hausmann at (630) 966-7642.

Marmion Abbey Monks Who Have Served as Missionaries in Guatemala
  • Abbot Vincent Bataille: 1989–1991
  • Abbot Gerald Benkert: 1970–2002
  • Fr. Abbot John Brahill: 1992–2009
  • Fr. Francis Daleiden: 1968–1970, 1983–1986
  • Fr. Patrick Greene*: 1965–1994
  • Fr. Leo Grommes: 1973–1982
  • Fr. Mark Hogan*: 1965–1969, 1972–1986
  • = Deceased | * = Founding Member
     
  • Fr. Conrad Lamb*: 1965–1969
  • Br. Timothy McGinn: 1992
  • Fr. David Palmatier: 1966–1975, 1984–1992
  • Fr. Carlos Quintana: 1978–1998
  • Fr. Joel Rippinger: 1987–1989
  • Fr. Matthias Zinkan*: 1960–1962, 1964–2007
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