Regis High School Breaks Bread at Ignacio House
On March 6, a group of Regis faculty and students were warmly welcomed for dinner by the resident scholars of the Ignacio House of Studies in the Bronx. Over Thai meatballs and jerk chicken, conversation covered a wide range of topics from sharing fitness training routines to discussing the serious ramifications of mass incarceration policies. The initial idea followed a highly successful supply drive organized by students Will Liao and Francesco Agnello, under the leadership of Marselys Lucero, Director of Social Justice Initiatives at Regis. Eager to get more involved in Thrive For Life’s mission and work, Regis folks worked closely with Sebastian to organize a dinner to build community and share stories of transformation.
Prior to the pandemic, Fr. Zach and Marselys collaborated a few times a year to bring Regis students to Rikers Island to play basketball and chess with young people behind the walls. For these encounters, students would gather toiletries and clothing items to bring to our brothers and sisters in jail. With the continued limitations on in-person volunteer programming, Thrive and Regis have innovated new ways to facilitate these powerful encounters, this time right here at Ignacio House.
Will Liao ‘22 shared that “by listening to the resident scholars’ life experiences, Regis students realized the many similarities between the two supposedly different communities. Both want to study at the same universities, have a family, work a fulfilling job, and ultimately forge ahead for a better life." Liao added, "by the Regians coming in with an open mind and heart (along with an empty stomach), they were able to live up to the Grad at Grad tenet of being truly open to others." Resident scholars shared their experiences as students, primarily at NYU, noting the transformative impact of education that many first encountered while incarcerated. One scholar reflects,
“I’m glad to have had the opportunity to meet with these students and build community. While many of us here have made mistakes, we want to live with a mindset of growth so that we can be leaders for those coming back home. We hope these Regis students will be leaders and communicators that will have the power to bring change to the world.”
Regis and Thrive For Life will continue to break bread this April at Regis in Manhattan. Jude Morrison, a student at the school, hopes that “Regians enjoy this experience as much as he did and encourages everyone to sign up for the next meal and conversation.”