“Love Deeply, Live Boldly”: Teens Called to Stand for Truth and Human Dignity at Annual Symposium – Denver Catholic

Report on the 2025 Pro-Life High School Symposium: Fostering Youth Engagement with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

On an unspecified date, the 2025 Pro-Life High School Symposium was convened at St. Mary Parish in Littleton, drawing approximately 150 high school students from the Archdiocese of Denver. Hosted by Respect Life Denver, a ministry of Catholic Charities, the event, themed “Rise Up: Love Deeply, Live Boldly,” aimed to educate and mobilize youth on issues of human dignity. The symposium’s core messages and activities demonstrated significant alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Event Overview and Objectives

• Event: 2025 Pro-Life High School Symposium
• Hosts: Respect Life Denver (Catholic Charities) and St. Mary’s Respect Life group
• Participants: Approximately 150 students from Catholic, private, and homeschool co-ops.
• Primary Objective: To provide formation for young people to become advocates for human dignity, directly contributing to a more just and equitable society in line with global development targets.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The symposium’s agenda and partnerships actively promoted principles central to the SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The event emphasized providing comprehensive support for women facing unexpected pregnancies, a key component of ensuring maternal health and well-being.
   • Speakers such as Dr. Catherine Wheeler, an OB-GYN, and the Sisters of Life focused on compassionate healthcare and challenging existing narratives surrounding women’s reproductive health.
   • Participating organizations like Marisol Health and Bella Health + Wellness offered resources that directly support the health and empowerment of women, contributing to gender equality by ensuring they have access to care and support systems.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila’s homily explicitly linked the event’s principles to the dignified treatment of vulnerable populations, including the poor and immigrants, directly addressing the goal of reducing inequalities.
   • The experience of Chas Canfield, operations manager for a Samaritan House Women’s Shelter, grounded the discussion in the practical realities of serving marginalized communities experiencing homelessness.
   • The symposium’s overarching message was a call to serve and uphold the dignity of all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable, which is the foundational principle of SDG 10.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions & SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The symposium functioned as an educational platform (SDG 4) to equip students with the knowledge and virtues, such as courage, to advocate for a more just and inclusive society.
   • By encouraging students to “stand confidently for the Church’s teachings on human dignity,” the event promoted active and peaceful civic engagement aimed at strengthening societal institutions to protect all individuals.
   • The call to action for students to discern their personal role in advocating for life contributes to building a culture of peace and justice from the grassroots level.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The event exemplified a multi-stakeholder partnership, bringing together faith-based institutions, healthcare providers, adoption agencies, and advocacy groups.
   • Organizations present included Hope’s Promise Adoption Agency, Sidewalk Advocates for Life, and Students for Life, creating a network to achieve common objectives and providing students with diverse avenues for service and engagement.

Key Sessions and Outcomes

The symposium featured a series of speakers who reinforced the event’s connection to sustainable development themes:

• Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila: Urged students to ground their advocacy in a framework that prioritizes the dignity of all, including the poor and marginalized (SDG 10).
• Sisters of Life: Focused on the importance of encounter and service, especially for women in crisis pregnancies, promoting well-being and gender-responsive support (SDG 3, SDG 5).
• Dr. Catherine Wheeler: Provided a medical and educational perspective, encouraging students to seek truth and compassion in healthcare discussions (SDG 3, SDG 4).
• Kelsey Reinhardt: Spoke on the need for courage in public advocacy, a necessary component for building just institutions (SDG 16).

Conclusion and Future Implications

The 2025 Pro-Life High School Symposium served as a significant initiative in forming a new generation of leaders committed to principles that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals. By framing the advocacy for human dignity within a context of service to the vulnerable, support for women’s health, and the pursuit of a just society, the event successfully mobilized youth to contribute positively to community well-being and global development objectives. The final call to action invited students to become “missionary disciples,” prepared to advance these goals with mercy, courage, and hope.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues that connect to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article mentions serving “people experiencing homelessness” through Samaritan House Women’s Shelters and the importance of treating the “poor” with dignity. This directly relates to addressing poverty and providing support for vulnerable populations.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The central theme of the article is the “pro-life” stance, which encompasses issues of abortion, euthanasia, and healthcare for women facing unexpected pregnancies. The involvement of a pro-life OB-GYN and health organizations like Marisol Health and Bella Health + Wellness reinforces the connection to health and well-being.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The event described is a “Pro-Life High School Symposium” for “nearly 150 high school students.” Its purpose is to educate and form young people on the Church’s teachings on human dignity and pro-life values, which aligns with providing education on sustainable lifestyles and human rights.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article places a strong emphasis on supporting “women facing unexpected pregnancies.” By providing resources, mentorship, and healthcare through various organizations, the initiative aims to empower women to make specific life choices, which connects to the broader goal of supporting women’s health and well-being.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The archbishop’s homily explicitly mentions that treating “the poor or the immigrant with less dignity is not the will of God.” This directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities and promoting the social inclusion and dignified treatment of all people, regardless of their economic or migratory status.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The symposium was a collaborative effort hosted by “Respect Life Denver” and “St. Mary’s Respect Life group,” and it featured numerous other partner organizations such as the Sisters of Life, Marisol Health, Hope’s Promise Adoption Agency, and Students for Life. This multi-stakeholder partnership is key to achieving the goals discussed.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The article’s reference to serving “people experiencing homelessness” through the work of “Samaritan House Women’s Shelters” directly contributes to this target by providing essential services to those in extreme poverty.
2. Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education… The article addresses this target from a specific pro-life perspective, promoting organizations like “Marisol Health” and “Bella Health + Wellness” that provide healthcare and support services for “women facing unexpected pregnancies” as an alternative to abortion.
3. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… human rights… and promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence… The symposium for high school students is designed to provide education on “human dignity” and “advocating for life,” which represents a form of education aimed at promoting specific values and a culture of life.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… origin, religion or economic or other status. The archbishop’s call to treat “the poor or the immigrant with… dignity” directly supports this target by advocating for the inclusion and respectful treatment of marginalized groups.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The event itself is an example of this target in action, as it was a collaboration between multiple civil society and faith-based organizations (“Respect Life Denver,” “St. Mary’s Respect Life group,” “Sisters of Life,” “Marisol Health,” etc.) to achieve a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 4.7: The article explicitly states that “Nearly 150 high school students” attended the symposium. This number serves as a direct quantitative indicator of the number of young people receiving education and training on the topics discussed.
• Indicator for Target 17.17: The article lists numerous collaborating organizations, including “Respect Life Denver,” “St. Mary’s Respect Life group,” “Sisters of Life,” “Marisol Health,” “Hope’s Promise Adoption Agency,” “Bella Health + Wellness,” “Sidewalk Advocates for Life,” and others. The number of participating organizations serves as an indicator of the strength and breadth of the partnership.
• Implied Indicator for Target 1.2: The operation of “Samaritan House Women’s Shelters” implies a measurable outcome. Progress could be measured by the number of people experiencing homelessness who are provided with shelter and support services by this and similar programs.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.7: The existence and promotion of “Marisol Health,” “Bella Health + Wellness,” and “Hope’s Promise Adoption Agency” imply indicators related to their services. Progress could be measured by the number of women facing unexpected pregnancies who receive healthcare, counseling, and adoption support from these organizations.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: denvercatholic.org