Ignatian Solidarity Awareness Events
Contact Person: Andrea Goicochea: x 5823 and Margarita Dubocq x 5352

As a Jesuit University we are members of the national Ignatian Solidarity Network. As such, we participate in the mission of facilitating and promoting communication, education, social justice awareness and action among Jesuit member institutions and individuals. Our goal is to better understand what it means to live and act upon “ a faith that does justice”.

One way of doing this is to sponsor and/or collaborate with others on various activities concerning the closing of the School of the Americas (SOA)/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). This involves education and awareness of human rights issues, a planned trip to participate in the vigil to close the school in Georgia (in November) along with other Jesuit institutions, and lobby training with visits to representatives in Washington, D.C. in February. As a part of the November weekend experience, students attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In. 

Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice

The Ignatian Family Teach-In is an annual gathering that serves both to honor the Jesuits and other martyrs in El Salvador and to protest the activities of the US military and government in the region. The event is a powerful experience, especially for students at high schools and colleges, who connect with their faith through education, liturgy, and protest. Though held in conjunction with the protest of the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, its focus is broadening. Other social justice issues considered are affordable housing, AIDS ministry and international development concerns. In connection with these issues we coordinate educational events to commemorate the Salvadoran martyrs: church women, Jesuits, Bishop Romero as well as the thousands of civilians who gave their lives while fighting for justice in El Salvador.

On the evening of November 20, 2008, a group of Loyola students, faculty, administrators, staff and Baltimore community members will travel to the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Columbus, Georgia.  We will join thousands of fellow students and colleagues from other Jesuit institutions to call for a “faith that does justice.”  We invite you to stand with us in this important journey.         

If you have would like to learn more about Family Teach-In, please click here. If you are ready to apply and join us this November, please click here.