Appropriating Ignatian Solidarity through Contact and Concepts

In the spring 2012 semester, Anna Faist, a senior at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, participated in an independent study course directed by James Menkhaus. This course, Ignatian Solidarity in Guatemala, connected Anna’s immersion experiences at John Carroll with extensive readings on solidarity, Ignatian spirituality, and social justice. The primary goal of the course was to combine the learning of “concepts” with the experience of “contact” that fosters a sense of solidarity within students. This paper offers a window into some prevalent literature on solidarity, Anna’s reflections on Ignatian solidarity in light of her immersion experiences, and a reflection on the value and weaknesses of immersion programs for Jesuit higher education