Category Archive for : ‘Uncategorized’

This Lent, I have been praying a lot about courage. We usually think of courage as doing something publicly… under difficult circumstances that often leads to public acclaim. We see that kind of courage in the words and actions of Ukranian president Zelinski or in the testimony of supreme court nominee Ketanji Brown or the prayers of Pope Francis imploring us to peace. In this time of distress, violence, and fear, many are rising up with courage to confront evil and injustice.

Last week, I was with Catholic Mobilizing Network on

Throughout the pandemic, I have been checking in with our partner agencies to see how their staff and members are doing, what challenges they are facing, and how we can continue to support them. I have been on several phone calls lately when people have asked me, “And how are you doing at the Darst Center?” My basic response has been, “I’m simply grateful I have a job and that I am healthy.” This year’s Labor Day seems more poignant to me in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, uprisings

In honor of the 51st anniversary of the Catonsville Nine Action, we remember the life and legacy of Br. David Darst. The following is the eulogy spoken at his memorial mass by Br. Jerome Halverson.

 

Brother David Darst, FSC

Born: James Darst,  December 6, 1941, Memphis, Tennessee

Novitate: June 16, 1959, Glencoe, Missouri

Died: October 30, 1969  near Auburn, Nebraska at 28 years of age  

Buried: Calvary Cemetery, La Salle Institute, Glencoe, Missouri

Homily Delivered November 2, 1969 at the Mass of Thanksgiving for Brothers David Darst and John George Simon; Holy by

It’s summer here in Chicago and as we at the Br. David Darst Center wrap up our year, saying goodbye to our long-term volunteers and begin prepping the space for new groups and new staff we found ourselves needing a little bit of inspiration. Why do we do the work we do? Who motivates and inspires us on our social justice journey and spiritual path?

Normally the month of July reminds us of long summer days, 4th of July fireworks, and lots of ice cream! But for the students of San

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Join the Br. David Darst Center for Our Summer of Caring!
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Since 2002, the Br. David Darst Center has provided young people with life-changing immersion experiences and educational programs in the Lasallian tradition. More than just a retreat facility on Chicago’s South-side, the Darst Center offers students a safe haven for those to explore what it means to be a voice for those affected by systemic oppression.
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To celebrate nearly 16 years of helping others to #seeitdifferently, the Darst Center is launching our Summer of Caring Campaign- which are events designed to celebrate

Welcome back to RE-THINK, a blog where our staff members will be sharing their thoughts and experiences working at the Br. David Darst Center. Today’s post is from Robert Ortbal, a former board member and a long-time supporter of the Br. David Darst Center.  As we close out our second annual Day of Action, he reflects on why the action of the Catonsville Nine was so important. 

 

A Day of Action reminds me that speaking out against injustice should be on behalf of the voiceless, the poor and the disenfranchised. Biblical history,

This Summer, the Darst Center is challenging you to step up to the plate and become a recurring donor for our social justice programs. If you do, you could win [...]

 

 

 

This May, the Br. David Darst Center invites you to DIG DEEP!, our new overnight immersion program aimed at empowering adults to take positive action against food insecurity in their community.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “lack of access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” For nearly 17.9 million households in the United States, food insecurity is a harsh reality- with its long-term effects extending beyond hunger to everything from emotional distress to chronic illness.

During the retreat, you will examine the intersection of

On May 17th, 1968, a group of anti-war activists entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland, where they removed several hundred draft records before burning the documents in a fire fueled by homemade napalm. The nine men and women, eventually known as the ‘Catonsville Nine’, were arrested and sentenced to jail after a highly publicized trial.

To mark the Catonsville Nine’s 50th anniversary, the Br. David Darst Center will host a Day of Action via our social media networks. We invite you to be a part of the conversation as

As today marks the end of the “unofficial month of love” the Br. David Darst Center posed the question what does it mean to do service with love? Is it possible to truly love the service one does and how can love inform the service we do? One of our year-long high school volunteers Eddie gave us his thoughts.

For the past semester, I have been given the opportunity to volunteer at the Br. David Darst Center. I have truly experienced the power of love inside the walls of this