“Learn, pray, advocate.”
This guiding spirit came alive November 15-17 this year, as five of our upperclassmen traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ). The gathering is a 28-year tradition rooted in honoring the Jesuits and their companions who were martyred in El Salvador. Hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, the Teach-In brings together thousands of students each year to explore the profound connection between faith, justice, and the call to act.
This year’s theme, Pressing On, invited participants to reflect on how hope endures in the face of injustice. For Daniel F., the message resonated deeply. After attending sessions on immigration and on the economic dynamics between the United States and Mexico, he walked away with a renewed sense of purpose. “Pressing on means to have hope. Hope is stubborn and does not give up. We must be stubborn and continue to advocate for ourselves and others.
Itzel P. shared that simply being selected to attend was “a blessing,” and that the experience opened her eyes to the collective power of young people pursuing justice together. Surrounded by a room full of peers passionate about social issues, including immigration and environmental sustainability, she found strength in the Teach-In’s reminder that representation matters. She reflected, “Hope is very stubborn. Regardless of how we look or what labels people give us, we are what God intended us to be.”
For Claudia G., the Teach-In provided a deeply personal connection to her own family story. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she found clarity and affirmation in hearing the testimonies of others who had crossed borders in search of opportunity. “After hearing the unique stories of individuals who immigrated in a similar manner to my parents, I understood more fully the emotional and challenging aspects of leaving the country that carried my ancestors’ blood,” she shared. The experience strengthened her commitment to advocate for immigration and refugee justice, “because immigrants are people, and they must be treated like it.”
We are grateful to Mr. Taus for accompanying our students on this transformative journey and for helping them bring these lessons back to our school community. Their reflections remind us that hope, persistent and rooted in faith, compels us not only to press on but to lift others with us.