Florida Catholic | Young People Learn About Social Justice

Young people learn about social justice

Youth groups and high schools from across the diocese take active part in Leaven Conference.

JOE DIAZ | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 04.04.08

Katherine Gaudet, a junior at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, talks to some of the local students who attended the Leaven XIV Conference March 15 at San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte. She spoke about the need to get people active in social justice issues at a young age.

Courtesy Photo
Katherine Gaudet, a junior at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, talks to some of the local students who attended the Leaven XIV Conference March 15 at San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte. She spoke about the need to get people active in social justice issues at a young age.

PORT CHARLOTTE | The diocese’s annual peace and social justice conference drew mostly adults and focused on grown-up topics — such as the loss of human life through the death penalty and abortion — but several groups of teenagers came to learn.

Some of the teens who participated in the Leaven XIV Conference March 15 at San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte wore school sweatshirts and T-shirts. Those from one of the largest groups, representing St. Raphael Parish in Lehigh Acres, wore anti-abortion T-shirts. Those from another large group, representing Cardinal Mooney High School, had an unexpected chance to sit with Bishop Frank J. Dewane at the start of the conference.

The Cardinal Mooney students, including Monica Kelly, Courtney Dowling and Colleen Cunningham, are part of their school’s peace and justice class. They said they were excited to see keynote speaker Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking” and an outspoken death-penalty opponent.

For members of the St. Raphael youth group, participation in the conference was a continuation of active involvement in the pro-life movement. The group went to Washington, D.C., in February to attend the March for Life.

“I learned that there are issues bigger than us in the world, and that we can really do something about it. I am walking away knowing I can make a difference,” St. Raphael’s Ralph D’elia said.

During the homily of the Leaven Conference Mass, Bishop Dewane made a challenge to all in attendance. “Next year, I want you to bring someone to the Leaven Conference, someone younger than you. That is your challenge.”

One of the workshops was led by Katherine Gaudet, a junior at St. Anslem College in New Hampshire. She spoke of the need to get youths more active in social justice, and her style and energy connected with those who attended the workshop.

She said the idea of being an advocate for social justice is by being able to say “I am doing,” instead of “You should do.”

“It is important for young people to engage fellow young people. Sometimes you have to put all the opportunities to act in the social justice areas on the table for young people to see, let them choose and get involved,” Gaudet added. “I really didn’t even hear about Catholic social justice until my sophomore year in college.”

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