Dear Diocese of Joliet Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Brian Hickey, the new Associate Director for the Justice and Peace Ministry in the Diocese of Joliet. I am thrilled to help lead the Office for Human Dignity in promoting peace and justice rooted in Catholic Social Teaching (CST).
My journey to this position began in 2015 when I interned with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an interdenominational Christian sports ministry, in South Africa and Zambia. As a division I student-athlete, I learned how I could apply my leadership skills by promoting a Christian lifestyle in impoverished communities plagued by alcoholism, fatherlessness, and gangs. I learned how our Christian faith demands us to address issues related to the human dignity of all people, including addressing the lingering effects of racial injustice.
After graduating from Valparaiso University, I worked as a teacher and coach at a Palestinian high school in the West Bank. I taught English literature and leadership, coached middle and high school basketball, and led an after-school discussion group for high schoolers. I lived in Beit Jala, a small Palestinian town, close to the wall that separates Israel from Palestinian territory. The opportunity to live in the Holy Land, despite many challenges in the area, was indescribable. My close relationships with Palestinian students and families made it difficult to leave.
In 2017-2018, I worked for Caritas Internationalis in Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa. It was a blessing to live among a small Catholic community, including the Bishop and Missionaries of Charity. I assisted in providing food and activities for migrants and refugees fleeing violence and instability from countries such as Somalia, Yemen, and Ethiopia. I also served as a 5
th
-grade teacher on the Church’s property for migrant, refugee, and native students.
For the past two years, I earned a Master of Global Affairs degree from the University of Notre Dame. I engaged in domestic and foreign policy topics with current and former U.S. senators, ambassadors, and a former White House chief of staff. My studies focused on integral human development and how CST can inform domestic and international public policies. This past year, I helped lead an undergraduate student trip to Uganda and served as an assistant rector in a Notre Dame undergraduate dorm. I also worked as a consultant for Catholic Relief Services. ND will always have a special place in my heart, especially because it is where I met my fiancée, Kelli.
I look forward to exploring how we can work together to foster the Reign of God on earth
informed by our rich Catholic tradition. I would love to meet you! Please feel free to contact me at
bhickey@dioceseofjoliet.org
or (815) 221-6252.
God Bless,
Brian Hickey
