Casa de la Solidaridad Mission Statement

From the Casa de la Solidaridad Student Handbook

“The search- for self, for wisdom, for love, for truth, for justice, for

God - is strenuous and unending. We need good companions in order to

persevere in it. In good company, in a community of conviction, the

quest never loses its relevance, its urgency, or its savor.” - Kay Ashe, OP

The mission of the Casa is the promotion of justice and solidarity through the creation of a meaningful academic experience by integrating rigorous academic study with direct immersion with the poor of El Salvador. The program draws inspiration from the lives of the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter who were murdered at the University of Central America (UCA) on November 16, 1989 and from all the people of El Salvador who suffered during the civil war, especially those who were killed in their struggle for solidarity and social justice.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the "classroom" of the people of El Salvador. Dedicated to fostering "men and women for others," Casa de la Solidaridad is a unique living and learning environment. Here you can develop your intellectual potential, strengthen your ethical and spiritual values, and learn to become a socially responsible global citizen.

OUR DAILY LIFE INCORPORATES:

Living in Community:

We choose to live in community in order to share with and learn from others.

Living Simply:

We choose a simple lifestyle, uncluttered by materialism, in solidarity with the marginalized of our world.

Focus on Learning with an Emphasis on Justice:

We choose to integrate rigorous academic study with the experience of the marginalized of El Salvador in the hopes of

committing ourselves in the world to justice.

Cultural Sensitivity:

We choose to live in the context of another culture and context, honoring and learning from Salvadorans whom we are visiting.

Integrating Faith:

We choose to invite our spiritual journey into our daily experiences as we seek to understand the world with which we live.

Students are constantly invited to reflect on these components as the experience evolves. Weekly community and spirituality nights are an essential part of the program which provide space to reflect in an intentional and ongoing manner.