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“Before coming here, my hope was that I would have some sort of positive influence in the city of Chicago, just enough to make me feel good and move on. Now, in closing, I realize that direct influence was never the point, but rather, influence in myself…” (CBHS student, 2026)

For the past 24 years, the Darst Center has been walking with young people as they explore the realities of social justice and how they themselves might help bend the arc of the moral universe just a little bit

Dear Friends of the Darst Center,

As I conclude my term as the chair of the board of directors, I want to express my gratitude for your support for the center during the past year. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the board chair during an historic time for the Darst Center. This time last year, we still didn’t have a true home. During the course of the past twelve months, we found a new building in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood, moved in, and worked tirelessly to

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

“You all have given me wisdom that I carry with me and treasure.”

In May we said goodbye to our Program Director of the last three years, Rachel Lyons. Read her message to participants, partner agencies, and the entire Darst Center community below. 

One of the activities we facilitate here at the Darst Center is called What’s My Role? It invites each participant on a retreat or a workshop to contemplate what roles they play in the collective work of equity, justice, liberation, and solidarity. Created by Deepa Iyer, the roles form

At the send off event for 2834 S. Normal on April 24, 2021, we were honored to have Mindy Rueden speak, the former Executive Director of the Darst Center and the heart of this space for over a decade. Read her message below and add your own memories of the Darst Center to our online booklet here (instructions on how to add a post are at the bottom of the Padlet page).

The mission of the Darst Center is one of great importance and one that will continue to create space

It was early August of 2020. I found myself having a conversation with the Br. David Darst Center Executive Director, Keith Donovan, about being assigned to the center for my year of ministry practicum as part of my theological studies at Catholic Theological Union. When I interviewed with Keith last April, I was excited about possibly ministering with the Darst Center and was elated when I heard the news that I was being assigned there. However, this conversation a few months later brought anxiety. Questions arose about whether I would

The Darst Center annually gives two awards to recognize individuals and/or organizations without whom we would not be able to succeed.

The Heart of the Mission Award, lovingly referred to as the “Darstie,” was first given in 2016 and is presented to an individual or individuals from within the Darst Center whose grit, determination, and dedication to the Darst Center mission have allowed the organization to thrive.  This individual or individuals has/have made significant contributions to the program, operations, vitality, growth, and/or sustainability of the mission.

The 2021 Heart of the Mission

By Br. Javier Rodriguez, OFM CapAdvent is a time for reflection to prepare for the hope and joy that Christmas brings as we celebrate the Incarnation. Usually, this reflection leads us to contemplate our relationships, and this is natural, since what we celebrate on Christmas is the most perfect expression of the most perfect love that is the most perfect relationship, the Triune God. Personally, this has led me to reflect on one of the most significant and important relationships I have had this year, between the Darst Center, as my

Those familiar with the Darst Center may have heard these words from our mission statement: “we seek to inspire an active and engaged faith, a commitment to serve, and a personal passion for social change.” We accomplish this mission by partnering with over 30 different community organizations through the Chicagoland region – schools, homeless shelters, food pantries, urban farms, re-entry programs, advocacy groups, and neighborhood community centers. Covid-19 has presented a real challenge for us to safely engage with these agencies and maintain our relationships with their members, clients, staff,

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