Loretto Justice Fellowship Spring Retreat

Loretto Justice Fellows gathered April 18-19 for our spring retreat. Each led retreat offerings for her peers — including prayer, personal journaling prompts, facilitated group reflection, sharing and creating art. Outside facilitators guided practices centered on resilience, restoration and nourishment for our Fellows’ individual and collective journeys. Of our 10 current Fellows, eight will graduate in May, five will continue in master’s programs, two have been hired as employees at their placement sites.

On our final day of retreat, we were joined by former Fellows who served last year. Much was shared by Fellows about the gifts and growth they experienced as a result of their participation in the Loretto Justice Fellowship program. They tenderly spoke of the impact of the program, of their social justice work, of their connections with each other in community.

For some, the greatest gift of the Fellowship has been self-discovery — one Fellow, who has been named among the top 10 of roughly 3,700 University of Texas-El Paso graduating seniors, shares: “The Loretto Justice Fellowship helped me envision a future in social justice and a place for myself in policy work. Because of Loretto’s investment in me, what once felt out of reach and too daunting to pursue as a lifelong career now feels possible.” For others, it was their experience of community that has been transformative. One shared, “My experience of community as a Loretto Justice Fellow is the defining experience of my academic journey — as long as I am invited, I will always return to the Fellowship community.” Many spoke to the unique community offering of the program as something they don’t often experience. Another penned this poem:

Gather & Grow

By Diana Acosta

I didn’t come to change the world—

just to show up, give what I could,

and maybe learn along the way.

And I did.

From quiet coffees to long-day laughter,

from pauses in sunlit corners

to stories shared between gatherings.

I remembered who I was—

a daughter of strong women,

rooted in culture, in love,

in community that shows up.

I met others—

like me, and not—

all walking together,

wearing the Loretto name with pride.

We worked, we danced,

we cried, we listened.

And in each other,

we found home.

That year didn’t just pass—

it shaped me.

Taught me how to serve,

how to show up with heart.

This isn’t the end—

just a song I carry forward.

In listening to their heartfelt testimony to our program’s impact, all I could think is this: Loretto should be incredibly proud. Proud of the very, very real impact facilitated by this program — impact on our Fellows themselves and those they serve. Proud of the ways in which these energized young leaders will effect change and serve their communities into the future. Proud of the way Loretto has been woven into their stories and ways of being. Our Fellows often speak of feeling bolstered, empowered and held by the collective support of the Community. And they are eager to “stand on the shoulders of giants,” to carry forward the work for justice and actions for peace that our current times so fervently need.

In the face of such uncertainty and disregard for the most vulnerable among us, donations go a LONG way to support the future of our program. Your gift makes a direct impact on the number of Loretto Justice Fellows we can support for our 2025-26 program year and our ability to respond to rising community needs. Donate to our program by clicking here and selecting Loretto Justice Fellowship from the drop-down menu to help stabilize our future and support the transformative impacts reported by our Fellows and the communities they serve.