WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 2,000 individuals including eight teens and four adults from St. Peter Church gathered for the 21st annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Nov. 3-5 in Washington, D.C.
Each year, the gathering connects Catholic faith and justice, addressing timely issues through two days of dynamic speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Known as the largest annual Catholic social justice gathering in the U.S., the Teach-In attracts attendees from more than 135 Jesuit and other Catholic universities, high schools and parishes in the U.S., as well as Canada, Mexico, Spain and El Salvador. While all ages are represented at the event, the majority of attendees are aged 16-22.
Pictured: St. Peter teenagers Matthew Chiappetta, Joe Audino, Luke Hudson, Aidan Healy, William Kernodle, Zoe Postal, Gabriel Schuhl and Chloe Wilson attended the 2018 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Nov. 3-5 in Washington, D.C. (Photos provided by Cathy Chiappetta and Joan Guthrie)
On the morning of Nov. 5, the Teach-In culminated with what is estimated to be the largest Catholic advocacy day of the year. More than 1,500 individuals proceeded to legislative advocacy meetings with members of Congress and their staffs on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to enact immigration and criminal justice reform. Teens from St. Peter including Matthew Chiappetta, Joe Audino, Luke Hudson, Aidan Healy, William Kernodle, Zoe Postal, Gabriel Schuhl and Chloe Wilson met with advisor Taylor Ware from Congresswoman Dr. Alma S. Adams’ office to advocate for humane immigration policies.
“To see such passion and fire in those who have every reason to dodge responsibility for the state this world is in, but do not, was both remarkably moving and inspiring. These teens are not quite old enough to vote, but they make their voices heard in order to stand up for justice and remind us continually, of the human, desiring and deserving dignity, that can be found in every experience,” said Jessica Heroy, St. Peter parishioner and chaperone.
Begun in 1997 in Columbus, Ga., the Teach-In is held every November to commemorate the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. The six Jesuit priests and two companions were murdered on Nov. 16, 1989, for speaking out against the country’s tumultuous civil war. The Teach-In relocated from Georgia to Washington, D.C., in 2010 in response to the growing interest in legislative advocacy.
The 2018 presenters included Bishop George Murry, S.J., former chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee Against Racism and bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown in Ohio; Nichole Flores, Ph.D., Latinx theologian and faculty member at the University of Virginia; The Peace Poets, a collective of artists that celebrate, examine and advocate for life through music and poetry; Joanna Williams, director of education and advocacy at the Kino Border Initiative; Jorge Huete-Perez, Ph.D., senior vice president at the University of Central America in Nicaragua, exploring root causes of migration; and Jesuit Father James Martin, bestselling author and editor-at-large at America Magazine.
The youth designed their own T-shirt for the annual gathering of teens. “For more than two decades, the Teach-In has invited the Jesuit network and broader Catholic Church to reflect on the realities of injustice faced by many in the U.S. and beyond,” said Christopher Kerr, executive director of the Ignatian Solidarity Network. “In a time of fear and division, this year’s theme invites attendees to understand the stories and lived experiences behind the issues to better understand the intersectional complexities of work for justice – and to find the courage to tackle those complexities in our shared work for justice.”
The 2018 theme, “Discipleship at the Crossroads: The Courage to Journey Together as an Intersectional Community,” invited participants to journey to the intersections of today’s most pressing and timely justice issues. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call to “try to listen and be silent in order to make space for the beauty of God,” attendees were encouraged to “get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas.”
St. Peter teen Chloe Wilson reflected, “‘Our citizenship is in heaven’ is a quote from the Bible, and those words really represent the mission of the whole IFTJ experience.”
— Cathy Chiappetta, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Cathy Chiappetta is the faith formation director of St. Peter Church in Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE — Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in every state, including North Carolina. And according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, Charlotte ranks first in the state for trafficking cases.
St. Gabriel parishioner Tammy Harris is doing something about the problem, establishing a non-profit organization – the Ursus Institute – that aims to help trafficking victims and collaborate with other like-minded organizations in the Charlotte area.
“Ursus is Latin for bear,” Harris explains. “Our logo is a strong bear set among the stars. The name came from the idea of “bearing” someone else’s burdens and leading them to safety. The stars represent the heavens and our reliance on God and the saints to lead victims of trafficking to safety.”
Harris’s desire to assist victims of human trafficking grew out of her commitment to pro-life work.
“A few years ago I was asked to take over the Respect Life ministry at St. Gabriel Parish. I have a heart for the unborn and I really wanted to do more to bring awareness to this issue,” she says. “Also, I thought it was so important to know about other topics that involve Respect Life, since it really is a ministry that focuses upon issues that surround life from conception to natural death.”
It was in this mission to learn more that Harris says she became aware of the human trafficking problem in Charlotte.
“As I learned more, I truly felt that God was calling me to get involved. There are a lot of misconceptions about this issue and it really is an evil that touches upon so many of the Respect Life areas,” she says.
As Harris started working with female victims of sex trafficking, for example, she was astounded by the connection between trafficking and forced abortions.
“I really feel that if we as a society did more to prevent trafficking, we would have a direct impact upon the amount of abortions that are done on an annual basis,” she notes.
Harris got involved with a local organization that helps adult victims of trafficking with housing and other needs, but “it quickly became apparent to me that so many of those who work in this arena operate independently and few share information,” she says.
“I wanted to start a non-profit that understands the importance of collaborating with others in this field. Since there is no single answer to solve human trafficking, we must work together as each organization focuses upon their core competencies.”
Harris also wants to increase awareness about human trafficking in the Charlotte area, particularly with actual data that can measure the extent of the problem.
“I had given input back in 2017 for House Bill 910, but the sponsor of the bill was having a difficult time finding co-sponsors since there was such little data about the realities of trafficking in our area,” she explains. “It will continue to be very difficult to pass bills and increase funding until we prove the prevalence of trafficking in North Carolina.”
Harris is working on a project along with UNC-Charlotte to accomplish just that – using data to paint a picture of the realities of trafficking in Charlotte.
The Ursus Institute recently absorbed another non-profit, The Voice of Hope International, which helped find care and housing for victims of trafficking within 48 hours of their rescue or escape. Those initial hours are critical, Harris points out, so she would like Ursus to continue offering that assistance.
“Also, we want to offer services not just for domestic victims, but for those who are international and were brought to the United States under false pretenses,” she says.
A donor has offered to purchase a home for the Ursus Institute to accommodate trafficking victims, she says.
“God has been very generous and so many things are falling into place. However, we are hoping to have more monthly and corporate donors so that there is an income that we can depend upon from month to month.
“It would be amazing if a church would ‘adopt’ the Ursus Institute,” Harris says. “This way, we can hire a program director to oversee the trauma-informed curriculum that needs to be in place before we accept victims of trafficking into our home.”
Harris has picked St. Joan of Arc as the patron saint for this work. “St. Joan of Arc is the patron of warriors and rape victims, so I believe that she is a perfect fit for this type of spiritual warfare,” she says.
“The issue of human trafficking is very dark and can be overwhelming,” she says. “However, if we look at this issue from the side of impacting the lives of the vulnerable and the marginalized, one can see the joy and fulfillment in this ministry. I am praying that my Catholic brothers and sisters join me in this fight.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
For more information
The Ursus Institute’s first fundraiser “Fall For A Better Tomorrow” will be held at 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at The Lighthouse in Charlotte. The event is a drop-in, open house (see events tab on www.ursusinstitute.net).
All are welcome to attend. The link to Chi Rho radio show interviews and more general information on the Ursus Institute can be found at www.ursusinstitute.net. Questions?
Contact Tammy Harris at 704-519-7901 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..