College Justice Walkers broach issues by combining service and faith exploration
By Laura Frazier
Inspiration and commitment, said senior Kristina Fessler, come from looking around and seeing 11 other people who want to make a difference as bad as you do.
Fessler, along with College Justice Walkers, a new faith and service group on campus, has committed to fighting social injustice by combining service with their journey of faith.
The 12 members of J-Walkers began the semester with a retreat at the beach.
"We just took two days to get to know each other. We have a pretty unique group," Fessler said.
Now that the group is comfortable, members will take action over the next three months, focusing on homelessness.
"It will be a challenge to act as God would and face the reality of homelessness," said freshman Edith Guerrero. "But we all connect because we share that we want to be in the group and help people."
J-Walkers will volunteer at the Transition Projects' Clark Center and help to prepare and serve dinner to homeless men. Then, the group plans to reflect on its work with group sessions, and connect its experiences with the gospel.
"Our main purpose is to live out the gospel and help bring forth social justice," said Fessler, student coordinator of the program.
After four weeks of helping at the center, the group will make a downtown pilgrimage and spend the day talking to people about faith. In the spring, the program will wrap up for the year with an overnight retreat and public presentation of their experiences and reflections.
J-Walkers hopes to fight the issue by promoting action within a community, said sophomore Daniel Boettcher.
"Nothing happens when its just one person to one person. It happens when people work community to community," he said.
Guerrero is also excited to grow in faith during the course of the program.
"I joined the program because I have been waiting for a chance to go to the next level spiritually, mentally and personally. I knew that this was my chance," she said. Guerrero thinks that the program will push her out of her comfort zone and help her make a difference in her own life as well as the lives of others.
J- Walkers was introduced to UP by Fr. Gary Chamberland, C.S.C., the head of campus ministry.
"As Campus Ministry staff, we had been looking for ways to help students to engage their faith, to deepen their own spirituality, and to engage the questions of just living raised by the gospel. When we received information about the College J-Walking (Justice Walking) Program, it seemed like a good way to do this, " Chamberland said in an e-mail.
Other Catholic schools, including Notre Dame, also have groups participating in the program.
Boettcher is very excited to learn from Chamberland through the program.
"It is great to have Fr. Gary. He is a good source of wisdom for us," he said.
Guerrero says that Chamberland is totally devoted to helping the J-Walkers team achieve their goals.
"I am very happy that Fr. Gary is working with us. He is so open-minded and outgoing and is willing to share his life experiences and listen to us," said Guerrero.
Chamberland hopes that the J-Walkers take full advantage of the program.
" My goal is only that people take the time to engage the process, to slow down and reflect on their lives and the challenges of the gospel and to seek ways to respond in every aspect of their lives," he said via email.
Fessler said that J-Walkers will convey to UP and everyone they work with a strong message of love and care.
"This program is not about preaching for us. It's about loving others in anyway that we can," said Fessler.
