Montefalco (Mexico) Service Trip

The Montefalco Service Trip

The Montefalco Service trip challenges students through an intense experience of prayer, service, culture, and friendship.

We will spend six workdays helping a low-income family in Chalcatzingo or Jonacatepec (Morelos, Mexico, two hours south of Mexico City) to build a more permanent, dignified home. Participants should fundraise before the trip for the cost of construction materials.

Our residence will be the former hacienda Montefalco, a large complex inspired by St. Josemaria Escriva and visited by the saint in 1970.

The trip will include a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and visits to cultural sites in Mexico City.

The group will be accompanied by a Catholic priest, and students will have opportunities to participate in practices of piety such as daily Mass and the Rosary.

Project

Through an employee at Montefalco, we met Gloria, a Chalcatzingo resident with a mentally handicapped daughter. The family lives in a small, fragile shelter. On her property, Gloria has laid foundation and placed rebar (bottom photo) for a more permanent, dignified home, but lacks funds for materials and labor to complete the building. That will be our project.

Itinerary

• June 12: Arrive, hotel in Mexico City
• June 13: Visit Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe; tour Chapultepec Castle; transportation to Montefalco
• June 14: Hike El Peñon (background of top photo)
• June 15-20: Construction project
• June 21: Return to Mexico City
• June 22: Flight back to New York

Trip Details

• Dates: June 12th to June 22nd
• Sponsor: Youth Service International
• Location: Ex-hacienda Montefalco, Jonacatepec, Morelos, Mexico
• Contact: Jeff Pawlick (773-209-1509, jpawlick4@gmail.com)
• Total cost: $1,325, which includes airfare. (A $250 scholarship is available for those who also are accepted and serve as counselors at YSI’s Pennsylvania Leadership Camp.)
  • For accepted applicants, a deposit of $325 is due by March 1st
  • The remaining balance is due by May 15th.
  • Both payments can be made at this page.

Fundraising

The trip fee does not cover the cost of the materials for the work project. Each participant is asked to fundraise to help cover costs associated with the project. Program staff work with participants to help with fundraising efforts.

Application

Interested students should apply for the trip. They will need to describe the reasons for their interest and their experience in similar programs. Those who have engaged with and formed friendships at other service and mentoring programs will be given priority, as will those who apply by February 15th. Application decisions will be available by February 22nd.