About us

An association that transforms lives by living the Gospel

Founded in 1981 by the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, we carry on Saint Hermano Pedro's legacy of love in Guatemala.

We were founded in 1981 by the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. We are an apolitical, non-governmental, non-profit association with legal status, registered with the State tax system and licensed to operate in health and education. Our purpose is to provide medical, educational, spiritual, moral and social assistance to anyone living in poverty, orphaned or abandoned. We are recognized for the quality of our services and our reputation as a transparent, trustworthy charity.

Board of Directors
Board of Directors

Mission

We are an association that transforms lives by living the Gospel. We serve the poorest and most in need in Guatemala without distinction, providing the highest-quality health, education and rehabilitation care in the way of Saint Hermano Pedro.

Vision

To be the association that extends its services to more poor and needy people in Guatemala and other countries, expanding our capacity with the support of volunteers, benefactors and the government, through a sustainable project and transparent management.

Our values

Fraternity

Fraternity is not limited to men alone: it is a universal value that runs through all human beings, considering us all brothers and sisters. Fraternity leads us to be supportive, respectful and empathetic with one another.

Minority

The value of minority means being at the service of others, making ourselves last and least. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples to be least when, being the Son of God, he made himself least to wash their feet as a sign of humility. Our father Saint Francis cultivated this value, inviting us to be humble and helpful to our neighbor.

Apostolicity

The value of apostolicity means finding the Lord present in the poorest and practicing mercy with them through service, to attain the gift of conversion of life.

OSSHP Franciscan Fraternity

Those who guide our work

Friars of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor who lead and accompany the work of the Social Works.

Franciscan fraternity of the Santo Hermano Pedro Social Works

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Historic moments

More than four decades transforming lives in Guatemala.

1981

  • Fray Guillermo Bonilla begins the work by distributing food at El Calvario, with the help of families, Archdiocesan Caritas and the “Tenerife” group.

1982

  • On June 22, the Hermano Pedro Social Works Association is officially founded.

1983

  • The Municipality of Antigua Guatemala grants the use of the former National Hospital building, destroyed by the 1976 earthquake.

1984

  • The convalescent house opens in the first rebuilt section of the hospital.
  • The “Santa María Niña”, “San Francisco de Asís” and “Anciano Ciego” homes are founded (today the “San Juan” ward).

1985

  • The Outpatient Clinic opens.
  • A home for orphaned children (today the “Belén” ward) and the “San Miguel Febres Cordero” home for young and adult men with disabilities (today the “San José” ward) are founded.

1986

  • A home for malnourished children, the Outpatient Pharmacy and Social Work are founded.

1987

  • The Special Needs School is founded.
  • Reconstruction of the “San Pedro Apóstol” church begins.

1988

  • The Nutrition Project and Nursery, the Outpatient Clinic and the Clinical Laboratory are founded.
  • Surgical missions begin.
  • The “Ana del Carmen Quiñónez” home for young men with disabilities is founded (today the “Madre Teresa de Calcuta” ward).

1990

  • The “Sagrado Corazón de Jesús” Daycare is founded.
  • A free eye-surgery project begins with the support of Dr. John Cheatham.

1991

  • Todd Collier (USA), a Presbyterian pastor, visits the Social Works and meets Fray Guillermo Bonilla — the beginning of the relationship with Faith in Practice.
  • The “Fray Tulio Maruzzo Rappo” home for young women with disabilities is founded (today the “Santa Clara” ward).

1992

  • The Social Works take over the administration of the “Renacer” Rehabilitation Center.
  • The Diagnostics Center opens.
  • The “Natalia Viuda de Cuevas” home, known as “Sala Naty”, is founded for elderly women with degenerative conditions (today the “Santa Ana” ward).

1993

  • Faith in Practice sends the first medical groups for the surgical missions.

1994

  • Fray Giuseppe Contran, OFM, takes on the General Direction.
  • Surgical missions increase.

1996

  • Dr. Fernando de la Portilla and Eva León, of Médicos en Iberoamérica (Spain), visit the Social Works for the first time and commit to bringing Spanish doctors for surgical missions.

2000

  • The Hermano Pedro Social Work Foundation is established in the United States.

2001

  • Three convalescent and post-operative recovery wards open, thanks to benefactors from Italy: the Clemente Stampfli and Addato families.

2003

  • “Casa de Fe” opens with the support of Faith in Practice, as temporary lodging for surgical-mission patients.

2004

  • First renovation of the Diagnostics Center.
  • Renovation and expansion of the Operating Rooms begins.

2006

  • On June 20, the President of Guatemala, Óscar Berger, honors the Social Works with the “Order of the Quetzal”.

2007

  • The VIA/Cryo program for cervical cancer prevention and detection is launched.

2008

  • The Social Works take on the administration of the “San Juan Bautista” elderly home in Jutiapa.

2009

  • The Dental Clinic is renovated with the support of Faith in Practice.
  • The Endoscopy and Colonoscopy clinic opens with financial support from the German Embassy.

2011

  • Construction of the “Virgen del Socorro” project begins on land donated by María Zelaya in the village of San Juan del Obispo.
  • The Friends of the Social Works Association is founded.

2013

  • The “Papa Francisco” Diagnostics Center is renovated thanks to a donation from Dr. Carlos Ernesto Mena Melgar and TecniScan.

2015

  • Fray Carlos René Portillo Arévalo, OFM, takes on the General Direction.

2016

  • Pilgrimage, blessing and inauguration of the “Virgen del Socorro” Home.
  • Fray Jesús Humberto Gómez Sánchez, OFM, takes on the General Direction.

2018

  • The facades of the century-old hospital building are restored.
  • First national raffle, “Hermano Pedro wants a Million Friends”, with the support of the Friends of the Social Works Association.

2019

  • New services open: Hemato-oncology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Rheumatology and the Neurology Diagnostic Unit.
  • On December 27, Fray José Contran, OFM, passes away at 78.

2021

  • The hospital's eight operating rooms are renovated with state-of-the-art equipment.
  • In December, the Albergue Hermano Pedro foundation becomes part of the Social Works.