Thirteen Boston College High students, led by Christopher Hayes of the school's religious education department and Michael McGonagle, vice principal for Ignatian Mission and Identity at BC High, joined more than 1,000 other attendees at the 17th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. last month.

The Teach-In, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the six Jesuits and their two companions, who were martyred in El Salvador on Nov. 16, 1989, is a three-day learning and prayer experience, and is designed to connect students and faculty from Jesuit institutions around the U.S. to fight for and advocate on behalf of important social justice issues. This year, the conference focused on the plight of unaccompanied immigrant children here in the United States and the growing issue of climate change.

The Teach-In concluded with an advocacy day on Capitol Hill. The BC High students along with students from Notre Dame Academy in Hingham brought letters to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office. This was a learning opportunity for the high school students in the process of working for justice. While the students didn't get to meet directly with the senator, her staff was very accommodating.