Saint Viator Students To Attend Social Justice Leadership Conference

Prophetic resilience: breaking down and building up.

That’s the theme of this weekend’s Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice conference that seven Saint Viator students will be attending virtually. Every year, the Washington-based event welcomes high school and college students from Catholic schools across the country, but this is the first year Saint Viator students will be participating.

They include seniors Daniel Bottcher, Austin Jones, David Lavender, Cassie Limberakis, and Steph Russo, as well as junior Mikey Schumacher and sophomore Mary Rittle. Nearly all of them participate in Saint Viator’s Justice League or have attended the Viatorian Youth Congress.

This will be the first year that Viator students will be attending as a delegation,” says Mr. Jason Wilhite ’15, campus minister. “Our students will be holistically living our vision statement as they actively seek to ‘discern who God wants them to be, discover what the world needs, and transform the communities they encounter.’“

During the first two days, they will listen to some world-renowned speakers, including Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, and Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, who started the Nuns on the Bus movement across the country.

They also will attend breakout sessions that will focus on current events through the lens of the Catholic faith. 

On the third day, students will meet with local congressional offices to advocate for Catholic social teaching-based policy reform, including Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Sean Casten, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

“We anticipate most meetings will be with staff members,” Mr. Wilhite adds, “but we've been told that two members of Congress plan to join in.”

Ultimately, the event strives to help students learn about prophetic resilience and to continue working to collectively seek a more just world, even in the midst of a pandemic. 

Br. John Eustice, CSV, vice president of Viatorian Identity and Mission at Saint Viator, says the chance to learn more about social justice, fits right in with the mission of the school.

"Any time our young people can put our faith in action for the benefit of those counted of little importance, the world becomes a better place,” he says. “They join a long line of Viatorians who stand up for justice.”
Back
Located in Arlington Heights, IL, Saint Viator High School is a private, co-ed, Catholic school for grades 9-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.