‘Community service’ at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
As a society, we often think that justice means punishment. We think that the only proper response to harm is inflicting more hurt on the person responsible. However, what if what is needed is love — tender, transformative, healing love?
PBMR Youth Mentor Joe Montgomery reflects on the possibilities that come from healing rather than punishment in all that he does. On a recent podcast with the University of Southern Maine’s Justice Radio, he reveals how he became involved with restorative justice at the center:
“I had to do community service, and unknown to me, the community center I was going to that day was right behind my house. I went in there with the mindset of, ‘I’m just here to get this stuff over with,’ but this man, Father Kelly, came in the room and sat down and asked everyone to introduce themselves. Then he asked us what we wanted to do that day. I was confused — I’m not gonna volunteer to clean up or anything like that — and these kids got to screaming out, “Let’s go paintball shooting, let’s go go-kart racing, lets go to the batting cages!’
“I was thinking,‘ I can’t be in the right place. I’m supposed to be here for community service.’ So when we were leaving out, I pulled Father Kelly to the side and said, ‘I’m not sure I’m in the right place, I’m supposed to be doing community service.’ He says, ‘This is how we do community service.”
“It threw me for a loop. We elected to do paintballing that day.
“I was 14 years old and had never been paintball shooting. I’d never been to batting cages. I’d never been go-kart racing. When my community service was up, I asked Father Kelly if I could join in and be around as much as possible. He told me to join the arts program. I didn’t know how to draw, but I was so intrigued by what’s going on at the center that I wanted to be a part of it, so I joined it anyway, and I’ve been a part of the center ever since.”
Time and time again, when we mess up, we expect punishment. Instead, what if we are welcomed in with open arms? What might our world look like if we embraced restoration over restitution?
This Lent, reflect and pray with the PBMR family over stories of repentance and renewal in Unrelenting Love, PBMR’s 2026 Lenten Reflection Guide. Download a free digital copy at PBMR.org/Lent!