A Journey of Service and Justice: Rostro Alumna Clare Acosta
November 22, 2024
Meet Rostro de Cristo Board Member Jim Miller
February 14, 2025“No daylight to separate us. Only kinship. Inching ourselves closer to creating a community of kinship such that God might recognize it. Soon we imagine, with God, this circle of compassion. Then we imagine no one standing outside of that circle, moving ourselves closer to the margins so that the margins themselves will be erased. We stand there with those whose dignity has been denied. We locate ourselves with the poor and the powerless and the voiceless. At the edges, we join the easily despised and the readily left out. We stand with the demonized so that the demonizing will stop. We situate ourselves right next to the disposable so that the day will come when we stop throwing people away.”
- Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., Founder of Homeboy Industries
Originally from Seattle, WA, Katie Madson attended Boston College where she studied Economics and International Studies. Motivated by her faith and a deep commitment to social justice, Katie traveled to Ecuador in her senior year for an immersion retreat organized by Rostro de Cristo. "The week-long experience was profoundly transformative; it emphasized the power of human connection and the importance of accompaniment. It reshaped her understanding of what it means to be “a compassionate and an engaged global citizen." Eager to continue this journey, Katie became a yearlong volunteer in Ecuador with Rostro de Cristo.
Katie with her Rostro de Cristo community and members of the youth group at their local parish, Bautismo de Jesús.
Her experiences in Monte Sinaí supporting a local non-profit’s efforts to advocate for community rights, living in intentional community with fellow volunteers, and bearing witness to the burdens and blessings that her neighbors experienced deeply influenced her vocation and career choices. Upon her return, she stepped into the Assistant Director position at Rostro De Cristo, a testament to her belief in the transformative experience that Rostro de Cristo offers.
Katie having a blast with neighbor Monica and her daughter as they celebrated carnaval which includes water "fights" and tossing colorful powder at each other.
Katie's time in Ecuador sparked a life-long interest in and passion for global health and development. Inspired by hope for a more just world that one of inspirations, Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., paints so clearly, she pursued a career that would bridge standing shoulder to shoulder with those living on the margins with sustainable solutions that enable greater access to health, education, and economic opportunity. Katie reflected on the important work that Rostro de Cristo does in today’s world, that “fostering a life-long transformation to pursue a more just world, respect the dignity of all, and seek to walk with our neighbors both near and far is an urgent need in our current political, social, and economic climate.” Her connection with her volunteer community and the broader alumni community continues to be a place of connection, support, and inspiration to bear witness to the gift of her experience in Ecuador. Since her time in Ecuador, Katie obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Washington and has been working in global health and development supporting special initiatives in strategy, planning, and management. She continues to support and connect with Rostro de Cristo through membership on the Board of Directors and gathering with alumni whenever she can.
