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Ignatian Family Teach-In & School Of the Americas Vigil

vigil procession   

 
Mission

  • As members of a Jesuit/Catholic Institution, we have a responsibility to do all we can to seek and promote a "faith that does justice," especially for those whose voice is being silenced.
  • As a community, we stand in solidarity with our Latin American sisters and brothers against the oppressive nature of institutions which perpetuate the cycle of violence.
  • We will follow the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero, working to be "workers, not master builders, ministers not messiahs."
  • We will work in peace and solidarity to break the cycle.
 

What is the Ignatian Family Teach-In?

  • The Ignatian Family Teach-In is an annual gathering that serves both to honor the Jesuits and other martyrs in El Salvador and to protest the activities of the US military and government in the region.
  • The event is a powerful experience, especially for students at high schools and colleges who connect with their faith through education, liturgy, and protest.
  • The IFT is held in conjunction with the vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, and its focus is broadening to include many other issues and concerns of faith and social justice.   
  • The Ignatian Solidarity Network will be taking an active role in organizing and supporting the IFT, building even further on the experience through social justice campaigns, organized and ongoing reflection, and information links to schools and participants.
 

What is the SOA/WHINSEC?

  • The School Of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the "Western Hemisphere INstitute for SEcurity Cooperation (WHINSEC), is a combat US Army training school for Latin American soldiers located at Fort Benning, Georgia.  
  • Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty.  Former Panamanian President Joge Illueca stated that the School of the Americas was the "biggest base for destabilization in Latin America." The SOA, frequently dubbed the "School of Assassins," has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. 
  • Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduate have consistently used their sills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor.  Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, "disappeared," massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins. 
 

What is the SOAW?

  • Founded by Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois in 1990, SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as media and legislative work.
  • Father Roy maintains an office in Columbus, Georgia, at the gates of Ft. Benning, where the SOA/WHISC is located.
  • In 1996, Carol Richardson joined SOA Watch and opened a Washington DC office. There are currently 5 full-time staff members.
 

Why is Boston College involved?

  • Boston college strives to live up to its Jesuit/Catholic mission to promote a faith that does justice and to truly be a voice for the voiceless.
  • The first BC delegation was led by Fr. Don MacMillan, SJ, a BC Campus Minister, in 1998 with a small number of students attending. This year's delegation in 2007 will be the 10th from BC, and we are looking forward to again raising our voices in song and prayer for the voiceless, many of whom we meet through our service and immersion programs to Latin America. 
 
What are some basic logistics for the trip?
  • The IFT holds activities on Friday night and Saturday morning. During the afternoon many gather at the gates of the SOA for celebration and education. Saturday night, BC returns to the IFT for eh celebration of Mass with over 3,000 participants from Jesuit Colleges, Universities, High Schools and other Jesuits Apolstolates.  
  • Sunday marks a very solemn and unified celebration of life and a recognition of the sacrifices our fellow sisters and brothers have made and the oppression and violence they have suffered.  This is done in the form of a symbolic funeral procession up to the gates of the SOA, as over and over again the people gathered sing out "Presente!" to let all know that those who have lost their lives live on in the spirit of those who continue to work to stop the violence.


HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?