50 Year Walk Anniversary Coming Soon!

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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Father Greg’s Historic Walk from Minnesota to Guatemala

On October 18, 1972, Fr. Greg Schaffer, Ronal Motta, and Elias Jacinto set off from the steps of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul and began a historic walk to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala. Their goal was to raise money for the Mission in San Lucas Tolimán, founded in 1963 by Fr. Greg. Their walk also aimed to show that a white man, a descendant of the Spanish, and an indigenous man, by working and walking together, could bring change to the people of San Lucas.

Fr. Greg, Elias, and Ronal arrived in San Lucas 3,000+ miles and three months later on Father Greg’s birthday, January 29, 1973.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the historic walk and Friends of San Lucas, which funds the work of the Mission, wants to take the opportunity to celebrate their achievement, raise awareness of and generate support for the continuing work of the Mission. While we are not re-creating the actual walk, we will be sharing glimpses into the history of the walk and the Mission’s work through our online communications.

Our Goal

In 1972, Fr. Greg raised $75,000 for the walk. This would be worth about $500,000 today. Our goal is to double that amount with your support. Together, we can sponsor every one of the 3,087 miles that Fr. Greg walked in 1972 and raise $1,000,000 for the Mission’s life-changing work.

We invite you to sponsor a mile (or more!) of the walk. Sponsorship is $300 per mile. You can sponsor miles on your own or coordinate with a group to raise the funds.

Reaching this goal is only possible by involving a wide range of people and groups.

What can you do?

Your support will play a critical role in continuing the life-saving work of the Mission. You can get started raising donations with these fun ideas:

  • Sponsor a mile
  • Solicit pledges from your friends, family, or colleagues
  • Create a walk of your own at school or church – great for kids!
  • Host a bake sale, quilt sale, or run a raffle
  • Host a Café Juan Ana online coffee fundraiser (more info at juananacoffee.org)
  • Organize a coin drive at an elementary school
  • Auction off services or items (ex: dinner with your parish priest)
  • Start a challenge with another parish, school or organization – see who can sponsor the most miles!

Contact Us

Want to learn more or discuss fundraising ideas? We look forward to hearing from you!

Ready to sponsor a mile? Donate online or send a check by mail to:

Friends of San Lucas
3459 Washington Dr #207
Eagan, MN 55122.

Gifts to the Mission touch the lives of more than 20,000 Guatemalans each year. Thank you for your generosity!