Connor Romenesko credits the Viatorians with instilling in him a passion to serve the poor and work for justice.
He points to powerful retreat experiences, as well as service projects through Campus Ministry and just reflecting on faith and social justice in religion classes.
Connor graduated from Saint Viator High School in 2011 and St. Norbert’s College in 2015, where he earned degrees in political science, international studies, and peace and justice studies, but his passion for serving the poor continues.
Currently, he is working as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, spending a year of service working at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, as a criminal justice intake specialist.
“I answer calls and letters from individuals who are incarcerated — and their loved ones — whose rights are being violated in the criminal justice system in Georgia and Alabama,” Connor explains. “I also work on investigations which can be as simple as going to a tiny courthouse in South Georgia, to picking up records or interviewing individuals who are incarcerated.”
Connor says he is surrounded by lawyers at the Southern Center for Human Rights,
Connor Romenesko served as a leader at the 2012 Viatorian Youth Congress — and he hasn’t looked back
who provide legal representation to people facing the death penalty. They also challenge human rights violations in prisons, and work to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes.
It wasn’t that long ago, 2011, that Connor attended the Viatorian Youth Congress and returned one year later to serve as a leader. The youth congress was started to connect young people from different Viatorian ministry sites with one another, but now in its sixth year, it focuses on faith formation and leadership.
This fall, Connor will be attending law school to continue his quest to advocate for the under-represented in the criminal justice system, but he continues to stay in touch with the Viatorians.
“My passion for service and working for justice was sparked during my religion class at Saint Viator,” Connor says, “and the Viatorians have been helping me pursue this passion to this day.”