Walsh Jesuit is on a mission: to develop “competence, conscience, and compassion” in its students by teaching them how to live out the school’s vision to be “Men and Women for and with Others.” On Friday, January 31, all Walsh Jesuit students participated in Justice Mission Day, one of four Mission Days that WJ hosts throughout the school year.
Justice Mission Day began in homeroom, where juniors and seniors who have gone on an immersion trip to the southern border discussed their interactions with the immigrants. Students also viewed a presentation of the immersion trips that included photos and a video reflection.
A community Mass was held in the Dome, which Fr. Pete Neeley, SJ, the Associate Director of Education for the Kino Border Initiative, presided. During the Mass, Fr. Neeley, SJ, delivered the homily in both English and Spanish, showing how he can effectively communicate with immigrants at the border.
After Mass, students had the opportunity to take part in over twenty different breakout sessions designed to educate them about the mission of WJ as it relates to those who live on the margins of society.
Mr. Dunn, the Vice President of Mission and Identity, noted that the primary goal of the event was to “show students that our Catholic identity calls us to an active, other-centered solidarity with people who live on the margins of society.” He continued, “Students should begin to understand how they see this calling for themselves and how they fit into the WJ identity.”
WJ invited twenty-one different speakers to address students, two-thirds of whom were not WJ teachers or staff. The speakers consisted of well-respected members of the local and WJ communities, including religious leaders, who presented students with valuable perspectives regarding their personal experiences related to the concept of justice in our society.
Freshman Cooper Westbrooks believes that the event made him more aware of issues facing immigrants in his community. Cooper stated, “I enjoyed attending the session about immigration because of an engaging simulation activity that showed how migrants obtain a card and have to schedule an appointment in the United States.”
Colt Crosley, a junior, reflected on his positive experience at Justice Mission Day. He said, “I went to a breakout session about the death penalty and thought it was pretty impactful because it made me think. I didn’t actually realize that it costs more to put someone to death than it does to just keep them in prison for the rest of their lives. The other thing is that the speaker said sometimes people have been imprisoned or put to death wrongly because of later DNA evidence.”
Other speakers addressed topics such as the underlying causes of homelessness and the needs of refugee single mothers in Ohio. Also, students were introduced to the importance of “becoming a disability advocacy warrior” and protecting the rights of the elderly.
Junior Ben Yeager described his time spent at the session with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s driver, Mr. Clarence Bozeman. Ben noted, “One of the most memorable things he said was that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was always a man of good character and truth, whether he was giving a speech or not. He was the same at the podium in front of thousands of people as he was with just a few off-stage in his private life. It was really neat to meet someone who actually knew such a legendary American leader of the Civil Rights movement.”
After the breakout sessions, students gathered in the Dome for a concluding ceremony that connected the key takeaways from Justice Mission Day with the five characteristics for WJ’s Graduate at Graduation, or “Grad at Grad,” initiative. Then, students returned to their homerooms and completed a survey about their experience. Overall, 80% of the students were “somewhat to extremely satisfied” with the day, with 85% responding “yes” to future mission days and 86% being “satisfied” with the breakout sessions.
Students were quick to share their stories about how their positive Justice Mission Day experiences made meaningful and long-lasting impressions on their future.
Freshman Emma Byrne reflected on her first experience attending Justice Mission Day. “I liked that the Mission Day started out with church. In the future, I will use the information I learned in the sessions to make better decisions and respect everyone,” said Emma.
Senior Carlo Costanzo appreciated the event, as it helped him realize how he can continue to focus on service after graduating from WJ. “I found the Life of Service breakout session to be really interesting and informative, as I learned the importance of living simply, being spiritual, and creating a sense of community, which I can use in the future to help improve the lives of those around me,” said Carlo.
Justice Mission Day offered students the opportunity to go in-depth into a topic that already interests them or learn about a topic which they have little or no knowledge about. Mr. Dunn noted, “Exposure to and awareness of various issues helps our students gain a concept of a global world they will soon be entering, which yearns for solidarity and kinship.”
