The generosity of our Catholic friends in the U.S. is transforming the lives of many impoverished families in rural Guatemala. Over the past year, their gifts have empowered Catholic ministry teams in three key dioceses — Santa Rosa de Lima, Sololá-Chimaltenango and Suchitepéquez-Retalhuleu — to build at least 299 new homes for poor Guatemalan families that were once living in unsafe conditions. These homes are a true gift from God!
What’s more, Catholic supporters in the U.S. have helped provide nutritious food for the undernourished, improve local healthcare, boost agricultural yields, run income-generating projects and expand educational opportunities for children. Families helped by these incredible programs are forever grateful for each blessing!
Many of the communities Cross Catholic Outreach serves can only be reached by long and bumpy dirt roads. These villages have little or no infrastructure, so parents there are raising their children without running water, suitable sanitation facilities or reliable electricity.
Most of the men and women in these rural areas are subsistence farmers who work long hours planting, tending and harvesting corn and beans, completely at the mercy of unpredictable weather. They work extremely hard to provide simple meals for their children, but their earnings are rarely enough to fully cover their housing, health and educational expenses.
Families without land for farming face even greater challenges. Many parents work as day laborers, earning about $10 a day when jobs are available. The Church in Guatemala reports that these families usually earn between $125 and $190 a month — far too little to afford adequate housing.
Ultimately, these families must make do with what they have, cobbling together plastic sheets, scrap metal and wood planks to build flimsy, unsafe shacks. When it rains, these dwellings flood or fall apart. Inside, children are exposed to dangerous pests such as scorpions and snakes and are more susceptible to illnesses.
But there is hope! Our supporters have blessed many families in rural Guatemala and are helping transform lives.
Related: Transforming Lives in Guatemala | Cross Catholic Outreach
For years, Carmen prayed for a safe home — a place where her children could sleep in peace, sheltered from the rain and wind, and where her family could grow in faith without fear. She entrusted those prayers to the Lord, and today, she and her family are living testaments to the God who responds.
Before the family received their new home, life was filled with constant struggles. Their old house, made from tin scraps and wooden poles, could not keep out the elements. When it rained, water poured inside, turning the dirt floor into mud. The family would gather in the driest space they could find, placing buckets beneath the leaks and waiting for the storm to pass. The wind slipped easily through gaps in the walls, and the children often fell ill in such damp, cold conditions.
Now in their new home, the family has experienced drastic and positive changes right away. The roof no longer leaks. The walls stand firm. The floors remain dry. For the first time, the family experiences the simple comfort of rest without worry. They no longer brace themselves when clouds gather, nor do they wake in the night to escape the rain.
As Santiago reflects on this transformation, he recognizes the deeper meaning behind it all: “I see God’s hand in providing us this house.”
The family’s living space remains simple, yet the home is filled with great peace. With the protection of their new home, the children can now focus more easily on their schoolwork, no longer distracted by rain, cold or wind.
The improvement in their health has also been a beautiful blessing. Freed from the constant dampness of their old house, the family feels stronger and more secure. What might seem like ordinary comforts — dry clothes, restful sleep and a quiet place to study — have been extraordinary gifts.
Through it all, Carmen’s heart overflows with gratitude. Her home is more than a shelter; it is a reminder that God listens to his children’s prayers.
Thanks to the generosity of Cross Catholic Outreach supporters, this family now rests in a secure home, deeply aware of the Lord’s loving care.
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
