TALLAHASSEE | Nineteen students from four Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Orlando stood up for Catholic beliefs and social teaching during Catholic Days at the Capitol, Feb. 10-11, 2026, a record for the diocese. School presidents hope the experience encourages students to take an active role in the making of laws that contribute to the good of society.

Their hopes embrace the spirit of Catechism of the Catholic Church 2239, which states, “It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.”

Sponsored by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and taking place during the legislative session each year, Catholics from around the state flock to Tallahassee, where they visit representatives and advocate for bills that uphold Catholic beliefs and teaching.

Students from Father Lopez Catholic High School in Daytona Beach were among those attending. Last year Leigh Svajko, former school president, and Mike God-bout, director of mission effectiveness, took their own sons to Catholic Day. This year, the duo brought five students, and students from three other schools also participated —Bishop Moore in Orlando, Blessed Trinity in Ocala, and Santa Fe in Lakeland.

Svajko said students see a lot of “politics on a bigger stage” and she thinks it “important for students to see people actually doing the work of government.”

Her son Joseph, a junior, said after attending last year, he was eager to return. “I kind of realized that what I say and what I believe in and what I express to my state representative is actually going to go somewhere,” he said. After speaking to his house representative, Bill Partington (District 28), Joseph said he felt heard. “I feel like I can really get my point across and actually get some things that I wish would happen to actually get into our government.”

This year his sister, Ellen, attended with him. “It’s been super impactful to see the actual Capitol and to look around and see all these people that do this every day because I would like to someday hopefully work in a career or a field that represents Catholic views in politics,” she said. She appreciated visiting the government buildings and spending time with representatives. Among those she met was Partington’s aide, Christopher Vasquez, a Catholic school graduate from South Florida.

Fellow student Jacqueline R. said the experience made her feel she had “more of a voice”. Particularly energized by the presence of other young Catholic students, Jacqueline, who led the group in prayer before meeting the politicians, said it’s “been really impactful because we’re all just trying to get our views across and trying to help.” She added the event impacted her future advocacy of Catholic issues “because it helped (her) gain new perspective and also be able to hear what other people think about different topics.”

“Students’ participation in Catholic Days at the Capitol offers the perfect opportunity to witness the legislative process and how faith can inform civic responsibility by encouraging young people to advocate for the common good,” said Camille Jowanna, president of Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland. She recalled Pope Francis stating, “A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern.”

Students Lily Kate O. and Nicolette L. represented Santa Fe, attending for the first time. Lily Kate is a sophomore who said she was surprised at “how open the Capitol and the Senate and all the government buildings really have been. You’re able to just go inside and take a tour and see how everything runs and works and how you can be a part of it as an everyday person.”

She anticipated it would be harder to “schedule an appointment and advocate for your own Catholic beliefs at the government level.” She added, “I hope that I can really live through (my Catholic beliefs) and advocate for them in a way that will actually vie for change.”

Ninth-grader Nicolette agreed. “What surprised me the most was when we went to the Capitol, how everything works, how the offices are, how they work in everyday life, how the Supreme Court was.” While visiting the Supreme Court she learned about how they handle cases and resolve them.

After listening to a detailed explanation from Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz on how he prays over every case that come before him, Nicolette said it changed her view “of how to come closer to Jesus.” She learned she could combine her prayer and work lives while remaining focused on Christ.

Catholic Days at the Capitol is sponsored by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops whose staff provides Catholic talking points on legislation that is being considered during the session. Among the topics was civil liability for the wrongful death of an unborn child (SB 164/HB 289), improving prison infrastructure and conditions, and the support of background screening and child safety (SB 1168/HB 1069).

The Florida Catholic Conference was established Feb. 1, 1969, as an agency of the Catholic bishops of Florida. This was part of a movement to establish Catholic conferences across the country. Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, in his doctoral dissertation on the State Catholic Conference, stated that in establishing conferences, the Church is putting into practice three “very basic teachings of Vatican Council II … cooperation between bishops of a region, participation of laity in the Mission of the Church, and involvement of the Church in the community.”

On March 19, 2012, the bishops established the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops as a new corporation under which they now engage in policy and advocacy activities related to state and federal legislation. The archbishop and bishops of the seven dioceses in Florida constitute the board of directors of both entities.

The event closed with the con-celebration of the Red Mass by all seven Florida bishops-now in its 51st year.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, February 12, 2026