Name: David Kelly Title: Roman Catholic priest Organization: Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, and Kolbe House, the Chicago archdiocesan jail ministry
- How were you called to your current ministry/service? After college I went to Cincinnati to work in an inner city parish. There I volunteered as a social worker in the local “Workhouse” which was an adult detention facility. Since that moment, I have worked in the jails, for the most part in Chicago. I currently work in the Juvenile Detention Center and Cook County Jail.
- Who inspires you? I am inspired by the faith and hope that I find among those who most of society has discarded. I am honored that they would share their story, with all its pain, with me.
- What are the biggest obstacles to peace? We tend to separate ourselves into groups: Catholic/Protestant, white/black/brown. In doing so, we rarely listen to one another. We rarely get to the truth.
- What is the biggest challenge your organization faces? The biggest challenge is that many don’t think the system (Criminal Justice System – and others for that matter) can be done differently. Many feel that they have to maintain the structure even though it is failing miserably. We are trying to introduce restorative justice and often it is looked upon as something that cannot be done.
- Describe for us a typical day We begin with contemplative prayer in the morning with some time as a staff to share what has been going on. We do some work in the office preparing for a circle (restorative justice session). I go into the jail most days and juvenile detention centers many evenings. There are the youth that come into the Center to talk or just somewhere to where it is safe. Presently, we are trying to reach out into the community to build our relationship with the people living in the area. There are the sacraments in the jail/juvenile. Frankly, I don’t have a typical day.
- How do you get the news? Newspaper, NPR (radio), Internet, word of mouth.
- What are your favorite websites and why? I have no “favorite” websites. I use different websites for information and finding out what others are doing.
- How do you nurture your faith life? I am nurtured by the people I work with and those I serve. We do contemplative prayer three times a week. There are many times when we are in prayer (beginning or closing a circle). I find the work both challenging and very rewarding.
- What advice would you give the next generation of church and civic leaders? I rarely give advice, but I would say that we need to be less concerned about us (personally or the church structure) and more concerned about being evangelized by those we serve.
- Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn't know. I am shy.
- Last good book you read? Disguised as a Poem
- Last good movie you saw? “Slam.”
- What were you like in High School? Quiet, but determined. I got along with most everyone. I had many good friends. I played sports, but I wasn’t a jock. I was pretty balanced and grounded.
- If you were a teenage Peacebuilder you would… Demand to have a cross-cultural experience. I would want to learn more about respect of the earth and each other. I would try new things and experience things beyond my community.
- What is your favorite comfort food? Beer and pretzels
- Share a favorite quote that inspires you. A quote attributed to an aboriginal woman. This is a paraphrase - “if you have come here to help me, don’t bother. But if you have come here because your salvation is caught up with mine, you are welcome.”
