IMage of the feet of those sitting in a peacemaking circle, with a centerpiece in the middle.

WHAT: In this facilitator training, participants will acquire knowledge, skills, and experience to facilitate peacemaking circles in their parishes, ministries, and communities.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 16 - Saturday, October 19, 2019

WHERE: Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
5114 S. Elizabeth St.
Chicago, IL 60609

 

***Registration is now closed***

 

About the Training

CMN is pleased to partner with Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation to offer this four-day training. Peacemaking circles are a foundational restorative practice that can bring about healing for people and relationships impacted by crime and conflict. They can also be useful tools for storytelling, reflection, and community building. Peacemaking circles are transformative in their simplicity, but a foundation of knowledge and skill is important for creating safe and inclusive spaces, especially in cases of harm.  This training is ideal for Catholic leaders who wish to facilitate restorative circles in their dioceses, networks, ministries, and communities.

In this four-day training, participants will:

  • Understand the spiritual and practical roots of restorative justice and peacemaking circles
  • Hear stories and examples of restorative practices as they are used in a Catholic context​
  • Acquire skills and resources for facilitating a variety of types of peacemaking circles
  • Discern and share opportunities to utilize restorative circles in their dioceses, parishes, and communities

We ask participants to commit to all four days of the training. The times for each day are as follows: 

  • Wednesday, October 16 | 12pm-5pm
  • Thursday, October 17 | 9am-5pm
  • Friday, October 18 | 9am-5pm
  • Saturday, October 19 | 9am-2pm

About Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and the FacilitatorsPrecious Blood Ministry Logo

Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) creates a place for those who have been impacted by violence and conflict. PBMR reaches out to the one who has been harmed, to the one who has done harm, and to the community. They also strive to be a resource to other groups and communities who seek reconciliation.

Fr. David Kelly has worked for Kolbe House at Assumption, a parish-based jail ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, since 1985. For more than 30 years, he has worked as a chaplain in Cook County Jail and Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. He has experience working in jails/prisons in Ohio and Florida. He received his B.S. in Bio-Chemistry from St. Joseph’s College, a Masters of Divinity, Masters of Arts in Cross Cultural Studies and a Doctorate of Ministry (D.Min) from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. His doctoral thesis is entitled Responding to Violence among Urban Youth: a Restorative Approach. He has been trained and certified as a mediator from DePaul University, as well as in the restorative practice of Peacemaking Circles. He has published articles and spoken on reconciliation, restorative justice, and jail/detention ministry.

Sr. Janet M. Ryan has been ministering at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation for the past five years. She created and manages its high school diploma program, does circle keeping in the local community and circle keeper trainings. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from St John's Seminary in Boston. She also completed three units of Clinical Pastoral Education. Prior to coming to PBMR she was the founding Community Leader of L'Arche St. Louis. She is a Clinton Iowa Franciscan whose mission is Living and Promoting Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking.

Cost

This training is partially supported by the generosity of an anonymous foundation and is typically valued at a rate of $500 per person. A suggested donation of $200 offsets the cost of meals and materials provided (Housing is not included, see below for travel and lodging recommendations.)

Meals will be provided and each attendee will receive a copy of CMN's recently published book Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity: A Catholic Encounter with Restorative Justice and The Little Book of Circle Process by Kay Pranis. 

Travel & Lodging

Air Travel: For those flying in from out of town, Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) is recommended as it is significantly closer to PBMR than Chicago O'Hare. 

Ground Transit to PBMR: From Midway Airport, take the Orange line to the Kedzie stop. The 51st Street bus (toward 47th St L) stops right outside of PBMR. Uber and Lyft both operate in Chicago.

Lodging: There are some rooms available at a local retreat centers at low cost (these are recommended by PBMR) as well as traditional hotel options. For more information on individual options, click here

***Registration is now closed***

Questions

For questions about this event or to be added to the waitlist, please contact Caitlin Morneau, Director of Restorative Justice at caitlin@catholicsmobilizing.org or 202-541-5290.