2023 Seelos Grant: Reflections from the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice
Four Alpha Sigma Nu student members, along with Executive Director, Clara Dwyer, attended the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice in Washington, D.C. October 28-30th. They represent Jesuit institutions from the United States, Spain, and Peru.
The Teach-In is the largest annual Catholic social justice gathering in the United States. It is a place for members of the Ignatian family (Jesuit institutions and larger church) to be empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked. The Teach-In has a rich history rooted in honoring the Jesuits and their companions who were martyred in El Salvador in 1989.
Below are some of the reflections our attendees shared after attending the Teach-In.
Matthew Querfeld, Fordham University, traveled to Washington D.C. from October 12-13, 2023 to attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ).
By representing AΣN at IFTJ and meeting members of the international AΣN community, I have realized that scholarship and doing service for social good are coexisting practices that support and enhance one another. [AΣN members] are driven to succeed in our academics with the purpose that our success be in service to others, not just for employers to be impressed by our transcripts. We enrolled at Jesuit schools and joined AΣN because Jesuit institutions are committed to social justice guided by Ignatian Spirituality. I see us as a social movement of Jesuit-educated students who want to be contributors to structural changes in our society.
Next year, I have good news to share that I will be dedicating my year of service in Washington D.C. at the Father McKenna Center! I am relieved to have solidified my year of service obligation. It is something I have, for a while, been thinking and praying about and since having accepted, my eyes are set on August when I start.
Laura Clark, Santa Clara University, traveled to Washington D.C. from April 2-5 for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) conference.
The experience at the ACCU conference grew my understanding of the Jesuit, Catholic mission in different ways. Being surrounded by leaders of Catholic higher educational institutions emphasized the passion and the intentional mission of Catholic colleges and universities. Being guided by a set of values and morals, the success of the institution is grounded in inclusion, empowerment, and compassion within the spaces for students to flourish.
It was clear that a commitment to opening educational opportunities to the poor and marginalized was a priority at this conference. Interacting with the conference attendees who included university presidents and people in roles of particular importance exemplified kindness and a desire to get to know me, a student, treating me as equally valued and dignified.
Next year, I am committed to doing one year of JVC in Portland Maine with the Immigration Legal Advocacy Project! I’m really excited for the new adventure! I would love to stay in touch and mentor future AΣN members one day.
