News

This November, Upper School students from Newton Country Day attended the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. The Teach-In is the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the United States. Each year, the Teach-In connects Catholic faith and justice work, addressing timely issues through two days of dynamic speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. NCDS has been sending students to this conference since 2015; this year marked the school’s eighth trip. Nine students joined approximately 1,800 participants for the 28th annual conference.  

Dr. Mark Potter, chair of the Religious Studies department and director of Community Service & Outreach, reflected on how this program is beneficial for NCDS students: “They have the opportunity to hear from and interact with young leaders tackling difficult issues such as human trafficking, the deportation of immigrants, the death penalty, hunger, and the housing crisis.”

The first keynote speaker of the event was Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries and a familiar face for our students. Fr. Boyle visited NCDS this fall following the community-wide summer reading of his book Cherished Belonging, which also serves as the theme for the NCDS community this year, echoing our focus on Sacred Heart Goal IV: the building of community as a Christian value. Many of the themes throughout the weekend tied into the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart. Potter emphasized this, saying: “The Teach-In provides our students with a new point of reference for each of the five goals of Sacred Heart education and invites each of us to consider how we live these goals out in the community beyond our campus. It directly connects to the core commitments of Sacred Heart education to provide a process of humanization and a path to transformation for students and educators.”

Several large-scale breakout sessions were offered, with topics ranging from ecological and  racial justice to ethical purchasing. On the second day of the event, Christian Leaño, Associate Director and Senior Director of Movement Building and Eco-conversion of the Laudato Si´ Movement, and Yunuen Trujillo, an immigration lawyer and minister to the Catholic LGBT community, gave keynote presentations that tied into Fr. Boyle’s themes of compassion, solidarity, and kinship. 

Several student participants offered reflections from their experience at the Ignatian Teach-In:

“I saw fights for causes I had never considered before. I was amazed at how passionate each advocate was for their cause. Whether it be the extinction of bees or migrant and border injustices, representatives stopped at nothing to educate anyone interested in the importance of their cause.” - Larissa Naccour ‘27

“The passion that everyone had for learning and sharing about social justice issues, as well as our call to serve those facing persecution, was evident throughout the weekend. I felt especially called to the portion focused on immigration and injustice at the border. After hearing personal stories of immigrating to the U.S., taking part in simulations that strengthened our empathy and insight, and learning about the statistics and policies that undermine human dignity, I walked away from this conference with a renewed perspective on border policy and a strengthened commitment to take action.” - Perrin Baisley ‘27

“A lesson that really stuck with me was how to live as a ‘Person of the Kingdom’ and how to live out my faith and continue to build the Kingdom of God in spaces where everyone may not share the same beliefs and values. I also got to learn from the people I met, seeing how they carry themselves to make a difference, and thinking about how I can apply that to my own life and at NCDS. I came back inspired to bring that same spirit to Newton, striving to act with faith, integrity, and a dedication to making a positive impact in our communities.” - Mariam Afework ‘27

“Especially notable were the stories of immigrants from Central America, a keynote speaker advocating for the rights of all marginalized groups in the church, and young, high school-aged speakers standing up for what they believe in. The most memorable part of all their speeches was definitely hearing the ‘why’ behind their advocacy and the reasons for their leadership in social justice.” - Izzy DeLeo ‘29

Potter reflected: “Our students return energized because they’ve encountered peers putting their values into action—and they begin to see how their own commitments to faith and justice can continue to take shape and grow through high school, college, and beyond.” The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice not only offered students the chance to learn from various leaders, but also affirmed the values they uphold within the NCDS community. Their experiences will continue to inspire them to live out the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education, strengthening their dedication to faith, justice, and service in the years ahead.