Building alone cannot provide shelter for the 1.6 billion people who live in poverty housing. Act! Speak! Build! Week expands the scope of Habitat’s mission from raising a hammer and raising funds to also raising your voice. Villanova’s Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity takes part in this week of education and action every spring. Please check back for a list of activities.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ambassadors are trained by and work closely with CRS, the third largest US international private relief and development agency. The Ambassadors gain in-depth knowledge on fair trade, food security, global health and HIV-AIDS, immigration, and peacebuilding. In turn, they educate, resource and contribute to student groups and University programming. They also create initiatives on these issues.
This program began at Villanova University in 1975 under the direction of Fr. Ray Jackson, OSA. It sparked a movement of colleges who instituted similar weeks based on the HHAW model. In association with the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness, over 750 school communities across the nation take part in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week each November.
In this annual event sponsored by Campus Ministry and the Center for Peace and Justice Education, the Villanova community discusses the root causes of poverty, especially food insecurity and homelessness. We raise awareness through education, show solidarity with those who are hungry and homeless, take immediate actions, and advocate for broader, long-term solutions that address systemic causes.
The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) is an annual gathering for members of the Ignatian family (Jesuit institutions and larger church) to come together in the context of social justice and solidarity to learn, reflect, pray, network, and advocate together. It is a place where people are empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked.
The IFTJ has a rich history rooted in honoring the Jesuits and their companions who were martyred in El Salvador in 1989.
Students participate in the Ignatian Family Teach-In to learn about current social justice issues, spend time in fellowship, reflection, and prayer, and then advocate on Capitol Hill.
Campus Ministry works in collaboration with Villanova’s Center for Peace & Justice Education, which offers an academic interdisciplinary program on topics of world peace and social justice as well as sponsors student groups affiliated with specific issues of justice.
The CPJE interdisciplinary academic program provide students with a diverse look the issues through a lense of peace and social justice. The CPJE course offerings are open to all students across the university, and students may choose to major or minor in Peace and Justice Studies
