Education, Liberation Theology, and the Formerly Incarcerated

Learning Through Accompaniment: Liberation Theology and Re-entry Communities at Fordham University

Sebastian Budinich

Ignacio House New York

When teaching liberation theology to undergraduate students at Fordham University, one of the greatest challenges is bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and lived experience. How do we move from reading about the preferential option for the poor to actively engaging with marginalized communities? Through a unique partnership with Thrive For Life Prison Project's re-entry communities, students in my Latin American Liberation Theology course have discovered powerful ways to connect academic study with meaningful engagement.

Liberation theology teaches us that true understanding comes through praxis - the combination of critical reflection and transformative action. As Gustavo Gutiérrez writes, "It is a matter of a deep, ongoing solidarity, a voluntary daily involvement with the world of the poor." This principle comes alive when students interact with formerly incarcerated individuals pursuing higher education through Thrive For Life's House of Studies program.

In their reflections and final papers, students consistently highlight how direct encounters transform their understanding of key theological concepts. One student wrote about how meeting residents of the Houses of Studies helped them grasp what Gutiérrez means by "the poor evangelize" - recognizing how those whom society often dismisses can be profound teachers about faith, resilience and human dignity. Another student reflected on how conversations with residents illuminated liberation theology's emphasis on God's presence among the marginalized.

The alignment between Thrive For Life's mission and liberation theology's principles creates a powerful learning environment. The organization's holistic approach to transformation - addressing education, employment, housing and spiritual growth - exemplifies what theologians call "integral liberation." When residents share their stories of incarceration, re-entry challenges, and educational aspirations, students witness both the reality of systemic oppression and the possibility of liberation through community support.

This engagement also connects deeply to Jesuit pedagogical principles. The experience of accompanying formerly incarcerated scholars in their academic journeys, reflecting critically on systems of oppression and privilege, and being moved to action embodies the Ignatian paradigm. Students learn to see themselves not as helpers coming to fix problems, but as companions walking alongside others in mutual transformation.

One particularly meaningful aspect has been involving students in Thrive For Life's weekly Saturday food pantry distribution at Abraham House. Here, they work alongside resident scholars to serve local families experiencing food insecurity. This concrete expression of solidarity helps students understand liberation theology's insistence that faith must be expressed through action for justice.

Through these experiences, students come to understand what theologian Jon Sobrino means when he speaks of the "prophetic voice serving an incarnational vision." They witness how spirituality and social justice are deeply intertwined in the daily lives of residents of our Houses of Studies. When formerly incarcerated scholars share their journeys of transformation through education, students see firsthand how access to learning can be a powerful tool for liberation.

The impact of this engagement often extends far beyond the classroom. Several students have continued their involvement with Thrive For Life through internships and volunteer work. Their final papers often reflect a profound shift in understanding - moving from abstract theological concepts to a lived understanding of solidarity and social transformation. As one student wrote, "Liberation theology isn't just about reading Gutiérrez or studying historical movements; it's about recognizing God's presence in the struggle for dignity and justice happening right here in our community."

This pedagogical approach aligns perfectly with Fordham University's commitment to forming students who are both intellectually competent and dedicated to the service of faith and promotion of justice. By engaging with Thrive For Life's mission, students learn to think critically about systems of oppression while developing the compassion and commitment needed to work for change.

Thrive for Life’s House of Studies program, with its remarkable 1% recidivism rate compared to the national average of over 60%, demonstrates what liberation theology calls "effective mercy" - combining compassion with concrete action for systemic change. Students witness how education, community support, and spiritual growth create pathways to transformation that benefit not just individuals but entire communities.

As we look to the future of theological education, this model of engagement offers valuable lessons. It shows how academic rigor and social justice commitment can reinforce each other, how theory and practice can be bridged, and how the Jesuit mission of forming "men and women for others" can be realized in concrete ways.

The testimony of both students and residents of the Houses of Studies confirms that this mutual engagement creates transformative learning experiences. It embodies what Pope Francis calls for when he speaks of a "church that goes forth" - one that doesn't just study marginalization but actively works to overcome it through solidarity and accompaniment.

Through this partnership with Thrive For Life, Fordham University is not just teaching about liberation theology - we're living it. We're forming students who understand that true education must include both intellectual growth and moral commitment to justice. In doing so, we honor both the Jesuit tradition of education and liberation theology's call to transform the world through faith-inspired action.