Thirteen LMU students and three staff members traveled Nov, 14-17, 2025, to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2025 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. For 28 years, this annual gathering has brought together students, faculty, and staff from across the Jesuit and Ignatian network to “be empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked,” according to the IFTJ website.
The first teach-in was held in 1997 in honor of the memory of the UCA martyrs of El Salvador. Today, the gathering continues to celebrate the witness of the UCA martyrs and the many persons who have dedicated – and sometimes lost – their lives in the service of a faith that does justice.
The 2025 teach-in’s theme was “Pressing On,” recognizing that walking the road toward justice is not always easy, but asks for resilience, persistence, trust, and community. Keynote speakers included Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, Yunuen Trujillo, an immigration attorney, author, and LGBTQ ministry advocate, and Christina Leaño, associate director of the Laudato Si’ Movement.
In addition to being a sponsor of this year’s teach-in, LMU also sent a joint delegation of students representing Campus Ministry and the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action. Delegates attended presentations and workshops over the weekend and then visited Capitol Hill for Advocacy Day, meeting with legislative leaders to advocate for more just governmental policies in the areas of immigration and ecology, and to thank and support our senators who are already sponsoring these bills.
“Coming from a non-faith background I thought that this conference had a great demonstration of the interconnectedness of spirituality and advocacy,” said Mason Vance ’28, a psychology major and member of the student delegation. “The breakout rooms and speakers really showed how these two come together and work hand in hand for justice. Being able to experience these interconnections first-hand on Advocacy Day was truly special and eye-opening.”
Elisabeth Adams ’28, a political science major, had similar takeaways. “Spending the weekend at IFTJ gave me so much hope,” she said. “Hearing what other students are doing on their campuses helped me imagine new ways LMU can live out justice and really amplify those stories. The energy from students at IFTJ was contagious. It was powerful to realize we’re part of a much bigger Jesuit network, all trying to center dignity, justice, and hope — and I’m excited to keep that alive at LMU.”
Returning to the West Coast, student participants are asked to reflect and share what they’ve learned in their home communities. Students attended LMU’s memorial vigil for the UCA martyrs in Sacred Heart Chapel; they will also participate in the annual spring LMU Advocacy Teach-In on campus, a local version that invites students and community partners to engage in education, inspiration, and action in the greater L.A. area. All are invited to save the date for the Advocacy Teach-In on April 11, 2026.
For now, the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice is an invitation to all members of the Ignatian network to press on, inspired to serve faith and promote justice in community with all committed to this work: past, present, and future.
