Inaugural St. Gaspar Scholar chosen
Kevin O’Gorman has been selected as the inaugural St. Gaspar Scholar, chosen to receive the first St. Gaspar Scholarship in Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union. The award is given to a lay student pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on reconciliation and restorative justice. Sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood U.S. Province, this competitive scholarship is designed for individuals committed to the theological and pastoral dimensions of Precious Blood spirituality.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in history and in religious studies and theology from the University of Dayton, Kevin served as a fellow at Amate House, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Amate House is a young-adult service and leadership development program rooted in social justice, faith, and community. Fellows live in intentional community and serve full time in under-resourced areas in a variety of fields, including education, health outreach, legal aid, and services for the elderly, youth, and immigrant populations. There, Kevin worked as the human dignity and environmental justice ministries assistant, specifically serving with the Kolbe House Jail Ministry in their re-entry program. Kolbe House offers accompaniment for those navigating the challenges of incarceration and re-entry, promoting restoration and reconciliation through outreach and support.
“We’d get a call from them right before the release saying, I’m going home in a couple of days — what can you do to help me?” Kevin says. Depending on need, the help offered may have included clothes and shoes, housing and food assistance, and job placement. “We would walk them through the steps, and I would ask them how they’re doing spiritually. They knew what they were looking for with Catholic ministry, so they would be open to praying with us as well as opening up about the kind of challenges they’ve been going through.”
Living in community at Amate House was an important part of Kevin’s experience. “I’ve always been really intentional about the kind of work that I do as well as the people I’m around, and it was a great way to have people that were able to walk with me along that path,” he says.
The St. Gaspar Scholarship is administered through CTU’s Schreiter Institute, under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Considine, and supports students preparing for ministries that address healing, justice, and social transformation. Established in 2022, the institute offers graduate-level courses, public symposia, and a certificate in reconciliation and restorative justice. Kevin Considine says, “I look forward to working with Kevin in the coming semesters. He is an excellent fit. As we build the program, the St. Gaspar scholarship can assist many students to afford a ministerial education that is rooted in the charisms of Precious Blood Spirituality.”
When his time at Amate House concluded, Kevin accepted a position as assistant archivist with the Dominican Fathers of St. Albert the Great. As a lover of history, he sees this work as another way to make connections between people. “I love my job, and I love the work that I do,” he says. “But I think there’s a call on my heart to reach out more, there’s an invitation of the Holy Spirit, and that inspired me to look at going back to school.” He begins his Master of Arts in ministry program at CTU this fall.
Working in social justice ministry ignites both Kevin’s heart and his mind. He says, “We’re called to constantly challenge ourselves, to constantly understand ourselves in the world around us in different ways. Social justice ministry encourages us to constantly create situations where we have to reframe ourselves and always encourages us to reinterpret and re-understand the world around us in a way that I think is dynamic and exciting.”
Fr. Jeff Kirch, C.PP.S., Missionaries of the Precious Blood provincial director, says, “Kevin O’Gorman embodies the spirit and mission of Precious Blood spirituality — bringing reconciliation, healing, and justice to the margins. His commitment to accompaniment, particularly with those impacted by incarceration, reflects the transformative love of Christ’s Precious Blood. As the first recipient of the St. Gaspar Scholarship, Kevin sets a powerful example of what it means to walk with others in hope and compassion. We’re proud to support Kevin’s journey and look forward to the impact he will make in the world.”