Father Denny Kinderman and Sister Donna Liette are both members of the Precious Blood Order of the Catholic Church. Father Denny worked for many years in a low income urban parish in Cincinnati before moving to Chicago in 2001. He is the co-founder of the Precious Blood Center, a restorative justice program where he works with young people who have had some contact with the juvenile justice system in Chicago.

Sister Donna worked for many years at Mercy Manor in Dayton, Ohio. Mercy Manor is a residential home for women recently released from prison. For the past 4 years she has also served at the Precious Blood Center, where she works closely with the mothers of young people who are incarcerated, or who have lost their lives to violence. A centerpiece of their work is the use of peace circles to help those affected by crime talk about their experiences.

Part I

Part II

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT MY INTERVIEW WITH FATHER DENNY & SISTER DONNA by Cindy Kamp:

 “I don’t like to think of my life as only the good things. The good and the bad, it’s my life, all of it.”   – Father Denny

When asked to reflect on any regrets that he had about his life, Father Denny was clear that even the difficult experiences were an important part of his journey. This is certainly consistent with his upbringing. In our interview he explains that his parents told him not to hide things from them, including smoking and drinking. This left a deep imprint on him since honesty is one of the key values around which he has built his life.

For Sister Donna, her sense of connection to others stands at the center of her life and work. During our conversation she reflected on the many people who have touched her life, including the former prisoners she worked with at Dayton Manor in Ohio, the nuns and priests in the Precious Blood Order, and the young people at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) in Chicago.

Both Sister Donna and Father Denny compare their own childhoods, growing up in loving families and safe communities, with the experiences of the young people in Chicago neighborhoods like the Back of the Yards. For these young men and women, there is often no father figure in their homes, their mothers struggle financially, and there is a great deal of gun and gang violence. Their neighborhood – and sometimes their own homes – are not safe places. Sister Donna relates the words of one young man who told her, “I’m 24 today. I never thought I would live to be this old.”

As they discuss the contrasts between their own childhoods and those of these young Chicagoans, Father Denny states that if we are going to solve the problem of racism in the United States, we must try to stand in the shoes of these young people. One way to do this is to listen to them talk about their experiences. In their work at PBMR, Sister Donna and Father Denny use restorative justice principles and Peace Circles in their work with young people, many of whom have already been incarcerated as juveniles.

The Peace Circle is a place to have one’s story heard, and to listen to the stories of others. It is based upon principles of honesty and confidentiality. Although he and Sister Donna serve as facilitators for these Peace Circles, Father Denny emphasizes that each person in the circle is an equal, and each has a right to speak and be heard by the others. Restorative justice is not punitive, but rather is directed at helping young people better understand themselves and take responsibility for their lives and actions.

I have become a regular visitor at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and have observed the warm, loving atmosphere that makes it a second home to many of these young people. As the city of Chicago continues to struggle with daily gun violence, Father Denny and Sister Donna are providing a lifeline to a better future for these young men and women.

DATE RECORDED:  10/31/14

MUSIC: Thingamajig by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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