St. Francis Xavier Award for Ignatian Identity

This award is given annually to an alumnus who, after graduating from Brophy, has sought to deepen his commitment to the ideals of Jesuit education in remarkable ways. Like St. Francis Xavier, who was moved by his encounter with Ignatius to boldly and selflessly live Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, for the greater glory of God, the recipient of this award has been moved by his Jesuit education to find unique points of intersection between his talents and the needs of the world. Brophy is proud to announce that Chris Opila ’07 has been named the 2026 recipient of the St. Francis Xavier Award for Ignatian Identity.

For Chris Opila, the pursuit of justice begins with recognizing the dignity of each individual and understanding that even small acts of service can make a difference. As an immigration and civil rights attorney who has spent much of his career advocating for refugees and other immigrants, Chris has carried the lessons of his Jesuit education into communities at home and around the world, working to protect people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict and displacement.

Chris traces his commitment to independent thought and social justice to formative experiences at Brophy. In Tom Danforth’s English class, a persuasive writing assignment challenged him to research and defend his own position on the Iraq War rather than simply adopt the opinions of others. During a Summit on Human Dignity focused on immigration, a wall constructed across a busy campus intersection required students to confront, in a tangible way, the barriers faced by people seeking a better life.

His Brophy experience also nurtured a reflective spirituality. Chris remembers the simplicity of the chapel at Manresa, where the surrounding natural beauty created space for prayer and contemplation. He continues to seek similar opportunities for retreat and reflection in nature, a practice that connects him to the Ignatian tradition of examining one’s experiences and discerning how best to respond.

After graduating from Brophy, Chris attended Middlebury College, where he studied Arabic and earned a bachelor’s degree in international politics and economics, summa cum laude. He subsequently continued his Arabic study at the American University in Cairo, developing language skills that would become essential to his humanitarian and immigration work.

While living in Egypt during the Arab Spring, Chris maintained a connection with Brophy, periodically joining Mike Ward’s Western Civilization classes remotely to discuss social movements and protests. He encouraged students to examine how different news organizations reported the same events, challenging them to consider the relationship between information and perspective.

Chris’ refugee work began in Egypt in 2012. There, he interviewed refugees and referred those at risk into various more developed countries' resettlement programs. Later, from 2014 to 2017, he interviewed thousands of refugees in camps and cities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Zambia, evaluating their eligibility for resettlement in the United States and helping families navigate a complex, multi-year process.

A significant part of his work has involved assisting Afghan and Iraqi interpreters who supported American military operations. Beginning in 2012 and resuming following the fall of Kabul in 2021, Chris has helped these individuals and their families get visas and relocate to safety in the United States. His efforts include documenting their service, locating former military supervisors for letters of recommendation, and guiding applicants through visa procedures. The dangers these individuals face are very real. In 2013, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia publicly executed one of Chris’ clients for “having worked with the Americans” before he could secure the client’s departure—a tragic reminder of the consequences when those who assisted American forces are left behind.

Chris earned his law degree from the University of Michigan in 2020 and subsequently clerked for a federal judge in New Mexico. He later joined the International Refugee Assistance Project on a Justice Catalyst Fellowship before becoming a staff attorney with the American Immigration Council in 2024. There, he sues the federal state governments to stop harmful immigration policies and seeks government data and other records to promote transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement and benefits processing.

Chris’ understanding of Men for Others is grounded in the belief that individual lives matter, even when the challenges facing the world seem overwhelming. He recognizes that suffering and displacement can affect families for generations, but that every effort to alleviate those conditions has value. “Trying to make a difference is a daily choice and a practice,” he reflects.

Chris’ brothers, Andrew ’09 and Ryan ’14, also attended Brophy, and his parents continue to live in Phoenix.

Brophy College Preparatory proudly recognizes Chris Opila ’07 as the 2026 recipient of the St. Francis Xavier Award for Ignatian Identity, honoring his commitment to accompanying vulnerable individuals and putting his talents in service of justice and human dignity.