The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (ITFJ) is the largest annual Catholic social justice gathering in the United States. Coordinated by the听Ignatian Solidarity Network, the Teach-In brings together Jesuit colleges, high schools, parishes, and other partners to 鈥渓earn, reflect, pray, network, and advocate together.鈥�
The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Experience
November 15-17, 2025
Join Campus Ministry and the Volunteer and Service Learning Center at the 2025 Ignatian Family Teach-In (IFTJ) for Justice in Washington DC. The Teach-In is hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network and is the largest annual Catholic Social Justice gathering in the United States. The Teach-In is a place for members of the Ignatian tradition to be empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked.
What We Do
Learn
Reflect
Pray
Network
Advocate
How to join
Registration includes a fee of $200 which includes:
- Full access to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) conferencing
- Hotel accommodations,
- Two community meals
- Flights to Washington DC
Campus Ministry and the Volunteer and Service Learning are able to provide scholarships for students unable to pay the full fee. Please indicate any financial need in your application and a representative will follow up with you directly.
Commitments:
- Available for the conference from Saturday, November 15 through Monday, November 17, 2025.
- Available for four pre-conference meetings at noon on October 3, 17, 24, and November 17.
- Available for one post-conference meeting at noon on November, 21.
History of IFTJ
The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice was formally started in 2004. Informal gatherings had taken place previously in Columbus, Georgia at the School of the America Vigil/Protest. Jesuit students, faculty and Alumni went to Ft. Benning and attended all the events sponsored by the SOA Watch.
The idea of gathering all the Jesuit Schools together was the idea of Robert Holstein of California. He had protested and spent six months in jail for 鈥渃rossing the line.鈥� He was a former Jesuit of the California Province and gathered some of his friends together to launch the Ignatian Solidarity Network which sponsors this Teach-in among other conferences and workshops throughout the year. It caught fire and soon many Jesuit colleges and universities, high schools, and other apostolates were attending the Teach-In. Many speakers addressed the assembly including Fr. Roy Bourgeois, the Maryknoll priest who started the vigil/protest in 1990 to protest the murders of the Jesuits in El Salvador. Sr. Helen Prejean, Martin Sheen, Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, and student speakers from various schools also spoke.
One of the major events was the Saturday night Mass that quickly attracted over 3,000 people including the Ignatian Family. The goal was to be heard in the halls of Congress to stop the injustices committed by the taxpayer-funded training of international military in the ways of war. Many of its graduates were foun