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Service and Social Justice

Welcome to Loyola University's hub for Social Justice and Service. Guided by the Jesuit tradition, we are deeply committed to the principles of social justice, service, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. Our mission is to cultivate leaders who are dedicated to ethical action, advocacy, and the promotion of human dignity. Through a range of programs, initiatives, and community partnerships, Loyola encourages students, faculty, and staff to engage in meaningful service, address systemic injustices, and contribute to the common good. At Loyola, we strive to embody the Jesuit values of justice and compassion, preparing individuals to make a profound impact on the world.

The Ignacio Volunteers program provides service immersion opportunities for undergraduate students at Loyola University New Orleans. This program aims to turn the university’s mission into tangible action by recruiting students from diverse backgrounds to come together to be people for and with others; to pursue truth, wisdom, and knowledge through meaningful pre-trip education, service, and immersion; and to find God in all that they encounter.

Participants of all service trips travel, serve, and live as one community during the experience. Participants are chosen a few months before the trip and meet regularly in advance of the actual travel. All trips are rooted in an Ignatian spiritual foundation of finding God in all things and include ongoing reflection within the community and on the trips. Fundraising for the trip is done by the group and as individuals.

Program Goals

TO SERVE: Participants will work with those of the greatest need — the impoverished and challenged, the disadvantaged young and the elderly.

TO LEARN: Participants will have an opportunity to explore the political, sociological, and economic issues that have created the environment and situation in which they will find themselves.

Program Core Values

SERVICE: Ignacio Volunteers put faith and compassion into action by keeping an open heart and a spirit of self-giving; by seeking first to understand, rather than to be understood; by being open to learning, even and especially, when it directly challenges them.

SOLIDARITY: Ignacio Volunteers serve not so much to “do for” but to “learn from” and to “be with” by encountering the joys, hopes, grief, and anxieties of those they serve by walking alongside them.

COMMUNITY: Ignacio Volunteers recognize that strength in community deepens their concern and compassion for others by loving and building community with those whom they share their journey—sharing desires, fears, hopes, questions, faith and love with each other.

SPIRITUALITY: Ignacio Volunteers commit to being fully engaged in the questions of faith, to share these questions in community, and to be open to the diversity of all traditions and experiences for Ignatian spirituality teaches us that each person’s relationship with their God is unique.

Recruitment is held in August of each year

Please contact Lindy Brasher at lmbrashe@loyno.edu with questions.

LUCAP, the Loyola University Community Action Program, is a vibrant hub for volunteer service and social justice advocacy at Loyola. Open to the entire campus community, LUCAP offers opportunities for hands-on service, reflection on critical social issues, and collective action through a variety of initiatives—ranging from rebuilding efforts and hunger relief to mentoring, environmental sustainability, and beyond.

OUR GOALS:

  • Foster meaningful connections between the Loyola community and local organizations through impactful volunteer opportunities.

  • Cultivate a culture of civic responsibility and deepen awareness of social justice issues on campus and beyond.

  • Empower individuals to become compassionate leaders and lifelong advocates for equity, sustainability, and the common good.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Follow us on Instagram @ lucaployno 
Email Lindy Brasher at lmbrashe@loyno.edu

Community service is the best opportunity to give back and make a lasting impact on your community. Volunteering at a service site gives you the chance to develop leadership and communication skills, work on time management, effectively problem-solve, and meet a few friendly faces. Community service often has a way of teaching compassion and understanding. Are you looking for a way to make an impact? Here is a list of local non-profits that may be actively seeking volunteers:

 

Our commitment to social justice extends beyond hands-on service to encompass robust advocacy efforts. Inspired by Jesuit values of compassion, equity, and the pursuit of the greater good, we recognize that meaningful, lasting change requires addressing the systemic roots of societal issues. Advocacy is integral to our mission, empowering our community to influence policies and transform structures that perpetuate injustice. By challenging the status quo, we strive to create a more just and humane world, aligning our actions with the Jesuit tradition of working for the betterment of all humanity.

The Universal Apostolic Preferences

The Universal Apostolic Preferences are the result of nearly two years of discernment. All Jesuits and mission partners were invited to participate in this process, which concluded with confirmation from Pope Francis during a special meeting with Fr. General Arturo Sosa.

The Preferences provide a horizon and a point of reference for the entire Jesuit network. They inspire our imaginations, awaken our desires, and unite us in our mission. These new Preferences focus on four areas critical to our world today, and the Society of Jesus will give special attention to them over the next ten years. We invite you to learn more and join us in taking action to make a Gospel difference.

Showing the Way to God
Show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment.

Walking with the Excluded
Walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, and those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.

Journeying with Youth
Accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.

Caring for Our Common Home
Collaborate, with Gospel depth, for the protection and renewal of God’s creation.

JSRI Exposes Impact of Solitary Confinement in Louisiana Prisons

The Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI) has shed light on the profound impact of solitary confinement in Louisiana prisons. Through meticulous research and advocacy, JSRI reveals the inhumane conditions and psychological toll experienced by incarcerated individuals subjected to prolonged isolation. This important work underscores the urgent need for systemic reform within the penal system, aligning with our Jesuit values of human dignity, social justice, and compassion. By exposing these injustices, JSRI aims to influence policy changes that promote more humane and rehabilitative approaches to incarceration, reinforcing our commitment to transforming society in the spirit of Jesuit advocacy.

Read the full article here.

Faithful Citizenship

The Catholic bishops of the United States are pleased to once again offer Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship to the faithful. This teaching document, rooted in our Jesuit Catholic tradition, addresses the political responsibilities of all people of good will, providing guidance for participating in our democracy. We urge pastors, lay and religious faithful, and everyone to use this statement to form their consciences, educate those in their care, contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and shape political choices in light of Catholic teaching.

To learn more about this resource click here.

JRS Advocacy Day
Each year, our school proudly participates in the JRS Advocacy Day, joining efforts with JRS/USA to champion the rights and dignity of refugees. Our students and faculty learn about the pressing issues facing refugees and advocate for meaningful legislative action. Amidst unprecedented humanitarian crises and record levels of forced displacement, our voices are crucial in urging policymakers to provide essential humanitarian aid and to embrace refugees and asylum seekers within our borders. JRS/USA facilitates this impactful day by arranging meetings with members of Congress, supplying comprehensive policy materials, and hosting a preparatory webinar to ensure we are well-equipped to advocate effectively. To learn more about what the JRS Advocacy day is click here.
Examen for Civic Life

The Daily Examen, an ancient practice in the Catholic faith tradition, is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern a direction forward.

Use this link to find an examen centered on civic engagement.