Annual Report
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“ “I am grateful to ISN for providing opportunities for education, prayer, and reflection for students 2014-2015 working for social justice, and for networking opportunities connecting them to peers, educators, and friends of Jesuit institutions through this important journey!” Beth Ford McNamee Assistant Director, Campus Ministry Saint Joseph’s University annual report The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) is a national organization that networks, educates, and forms ad- vocates for social justice animated by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the witness of the Jesuit 2015-2016 martyrs of El Salvador and their companions. Learn more: ignatiansolidarity.net 2015-2016 From the Director Member institutions board of national Bellarmine College Preparatory Our Lady of Guadalupe In our office, at ISN programming, Bellarmine Preparatory School Regis High School directors advisory and in communication with members Bishop Canevin High School Regis Jesuit High School Boston College Regis University Shaina Aber Rockhurst University and friends, the resounding message Boston College High School Susan Baber council Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Saint Joseph’s University Robyn Caponi is that we are thriving as a Brophy College Preparatory Saint Louis University Canisius College Saint Peter’s Preparatory School Salvador Colon Jeanne Anderson West “network that networks for Center of Concern Saint Peter’s University Melissa Collins DiLeonardo Luis Enrique Bazan Cheverus High School Santa Clara University William A. Hobbs Kurt Bindewald justice.” Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (NYC) Scranton Preparatory School Paris Jones Jim Broderick King College of the Holy Cross Seattle University Fred Kammer, S.J. Meg Buegg Each year, as part of the Ignatian family, we renew our commit- Creighton Preparatory School Spring Hill College Robert Lassalle-Klein Christopher Calederon, S.J. Creighton University St. Agnes Catholic Church Charlotte Mahoney Colleen Fitzgerald ment to intentionally seek out ways to connect individuals and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Chicago St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church Nicholas Napolitano BethFord McNamee groups engaged in work for justice—to bridge generations, De Smet Jesuit High School St. Bonaventure’s College Kevin O’Brien Katie Hart institutions, and organizations—to provide time and space to Fairfield College Preparatory School St. Ignatius Church (MD) Brent Otto, S.J. Kathleen Maas Weigert, Ph.D. St. Ignatius College Prep share ideas, recommit ourselves to the work we do, and recen- Fairfield University Scott Powers Jimmy McCarty, Ph.D. Fordham Preparatory School St. Ignatius College Preparatory Stephen Privett, S.J. Michael McGonagle St. Ignatius High School ter our efforts in the context of Ignatian spirituality. Fordham University John R. Raslowsky Jeff Peak Georgetown Preparatory School St. Ignatius Loyola Parish (CA) Jocelyn Sideco Melissa Quan Georgetown University St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish (MA) Kerry Weber Susan Stuart Over the past 12 months, our work was animated by Pope Gesu Church St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy Francis’s monumental visit to the United States, and his historic Gonzaga College High School St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Justin T. White Ashley Wilson address to Congress. The scope of the Ignatian network was Gonzaga University St. Louis University High School Andria Wisler, Ph.D. Holy Trinity Catholic Church St. Mary Student Parish (MI) powerfully evident surrounding this event, as ISN mobilized Jesuit College Preparatory School of St. Paul’s High School more than 38,000 individuals to attend “Pope2Congress” watch Dallas St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel parties in their schools, parishes, ministry offices, and homes. Jesuit High School Portland St. Therese Catholic Church (NC) staff Jesuit High School Sacramento Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Jesuit Schools Network Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United Christopher Kerr || Executive Director States We have continued our work to form leaders of all ages through Jesuit Volunteer Corps Kim Miller || Program Director John Carroll University University of Detroit Jesuit High School and our dynamic and growing programs and resources for high Kelly Swan || Communications Manager Le Moyne College Academy Lena Chapin || Development Coordinator school and college students, parishioners, and alumni —all Loyola Academy University of Detroit Mercy designed to support the Ignatian network’s commitment to Loyola Blakefield University of San Francisco Julie Hahnenberg || Administrative Assistant explore the intersection between faith and social justice. Loyola High School of Los Angeles University of Scranton Vanessa Kreiss || Intern Loyola Marymount University Walsh Jesuit High School Anna Masica || Intern Loyola School Wheeling Jesuit University Loyola University Chicago Xavier High School (NYC) Loyola University Maryland Xavier University Loyola University New Orleans Christopher Kerr, ISN Executive Director Marquette University Marquette University High School McQuaid Jesuit High School Notre Dame School of Manhattan On the Cover: Ignatian advocates gather in front of the U.S. Capitol to rally before heading to advocacy meetings with legislators. Over 1,200 advocates participated in meetings with nearly 125 Congressional offices on November 9, 2015. at a glance Highlights from 2015-2016 Online Presence: The Ignatian “Celebrating this past year’s liturgy network grew online this past year with over 8,000 new social media followers and more than 220,000 at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, unique visitors to the ISN website. I experienced firsthand the value of ISN’s work across the Jesuit network. They lift up the Alta Gracia Speakers Tour-Fall 2015: In partnership with Solidarity faith and justice mission of our ministry by Ignite, ISN hosted apparel workers from the Dominican Republic based Alta Gracia Living Wage uniting people and institutions to illuminate Pope2Border-February 2016: Mobilized by ISN’s mission of networking and advocacy, clothing factory. Reaching 12 dozens of institutions tuned in to a livestream of Pope Francis’s mass near the Mexico-U.S. states and 27 schools, the tour raised awareness about ethical border, attended solidarity masses, and secured thousands of signatures on a letter to consumerism and the positive the voice of the marginalized.” Catholic members of Congress urging humane policies toward migrants. implications of “a salary with Read more at http://igsol.net/pope2border dignity.” Stay in Love Ignatian Advocacy 101 rev. timothy kesicki, S.J. 2015-2016 Online and print guide for recent alumni seeking to Advocacy training guide providing step-by-step President, Jesuit Conference Publications: stay involved with the Ignatian network—parishes, direction for planning and implementing legislative retreat centers, formation and networking opportu- advocacy meetings, with a distinctly Ignatian of Canada and the United States nities, and service and justice related advocacy approach to reflection and discernment Ignatian Family Teach-In New mission and vision for Justice 2015 A growing network working for justice, grounded in faith “We must possess the hope that this journey we are on, no matter In the fall of 2015, the ISN Board of Directors The ISN mission and vision statements had engaged in a series of listening sessions that not been revised since 2010, and much had the speed, will lead us to justice.... provided insights as they entered into a process to changed for our organization since then. Most revitalize our mission and vision statements. After notably, our programs and digital presence With our passion for change, we all meetings in seven cities across the country as well has grown over that time. In addition, over 25 as with our National Advisory Council, the board new member institutions became engaged have to keep moving forward, for approved these revitalized statements in in ISN’s work—including additional Jesuit ourselves, for our communities, April 2016. parishes and social ministries, Jesuit schools in Canada, and non-Jesuit high schools for the greater glory of God.” and universities. ISN is the “network that Brendan Underwood, St. Louis University High networks for justice” and that network is Our Mission School (’16), Ignatian Network Speaker Values: growing! Network, educate, and form Catholic social advocates for social justice The new statements also responded to Brendan Underwood was one of many powerful thought animated by the spirituality of the reality that the high school and college speakers to reflect on the Teach-In theme “Bridges.” students of today have a different context St. Ignatius of Loyola and the 1,700+ participants from the U.S. as well as Canada, witness of the Jesuit martyrs for the deaths of the Jesuits and their lay Collaborative companions murdered in El Salvador El Salvador, and Mexico considered the “Bridges” way of proceeding of El Salvador and their in 1989. These young people were not that need to be envisioned, mended, and built to let companions. alive when these events happened and hope and light shine forth amid a world scarred by Faith doing justice do not have a frame of reference for injustice—including racism, which Brendan our vision the early years of the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Thus, the new addressed while reflecting on violence directed at Ignatian Mobilize a network which mission statement represents the young black men. Capitalizing on the energy of the spirituality •Provides resources to Jesuit ministries