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Community Corner

Weston Youth Attends National Social Justice Conference

Thomas Russo of Weston, a senior at Boston College High School, together with 8 other BC High students and accompanied by Margaret Scanlon of the BC High Religious Education department and Father Ron Perry, SJ., Rector of BC High, joined more than 1,000 other attendees at the 16th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC, from November 16-18, 2013.

The Teach-In, a three day learning and prayer experience, is designed to connect students and faculty from Jesuit institutions around the U.S. to fight for and advocate on behalf of important social justice issues. This year, the conference focused on immigration reform. They met with Senators Markey and Warren, Congressman Kennedy, Representative McGovern, protesting immigration policies that often split up families. The students also advocated for fair wages, and access to food for low-income families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Started in 1997, the Teach-in takes place in mid-November to commemorate the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. The six Jesuit priests and two companions were murdered on November 16, 1989, in El Salvador for their work advocating on behalf of the economically poor in that country.

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Russo and the group gathered this year in the spirit of these Jesuit martyrs using their lives and ministry as inspiration for discovering the injustices of today and how to engage in them.  The Teach-In is a place where people are empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked.

Boston College High School is a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men founded in 1863.  The school enrolls approximately 1600 students from more than 100 communities in eastern Massachusetts. For more http://www.bchigh.edu

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