Blog

At this year’s A Night At the Races fundraiser event, The Br. David Darst Center welcomed over 80 people for a fantastic evening at De La Salle Institute to celebrate its mission of social justice education. The Darst Center’s Board of Directors gave out two awards – the organization, Chicago Regional Organizing for AntiRacism, received the 2020 Br. Denis Murphy Social Justice in Action Award and Dr. Grant Gholson, a friend and former Board member and of the Darst Center, won the 2020 Heart of the Mission Award. 

Both of the

By Maddie Cox, Darst Staff 2018-2019

Staff member Maddie Cox with Archbishop Elias Chacour at Fourth Presbyterian Church in May 2019.

At 4 o’clock in the morning, I said goodbye to a mighty group of six from Manhattan College after spending six quality days on retreat together in May 2019. By the end of it, they had stolen my heart, and apparently enough to make me wake up at 3:45 a.m. to make sure they had a proper send-off from the Darst Center to begin their 14-hour trek home. As they drove

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

The Board of Directors of Chicago’s Br. David Darst Center has unanimously selected Most Rev. Robert G. Casey, Episcopal Vicar, Archdiocese of Chicago to receive the Center’s 2019 Br. Denis Murphy Justice in Action Award.

Given annually, this award recognizes an individual, organization, or foundation with a strong dedication to social justice and outstanding community service.

Bishop Casey’s strong commitment to Catholic social teaching has taken many forms over his years as a parish priest, pastor, and now auxiliary bishop in Chicago. As pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish (2003-2009) he

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,

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 our Program Director, Rachel Lyons. In her post, she reflects on her experiences as the Darst Center took part in the recent CPCA Rally for the National Day of Prayer. 

 “When I marched in Selma, I felt my legs were praying.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Our bodies are pretty astonishing, aren’t they? Sometimes fragile, sometimes strong. Resilient and tender and brittle. Weak and

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