Day of Fellowship and Formation for Prison Ministry Volunteers

Andrew carries many titles: husband, father, college graduate, advocate, and nonprofit leader. But it was not that long ago when he carried the label “juvenile lifer.”

In June 2016, Andrew became the first juvenile lifer in Louisiana to be paroled following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Miller and Montgomery decisions that prohibited the mandatory sentencing of children to life without parole. It was clear that he was not the same 15-year-old who went to prison in 1997. While incarcerated Andrew completed numerous programs and college courses, served as a leader in multiple prisoner organizations, and taught self-help and reentry classes.

He co-founded Louisiana Parole Project in August 2016 to provide advocacy and reentry support to men and women deserving of redemption. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its scope to promote second chance hiring, offer direct legal representation, and provide housing opportunities to people coming home from prison. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology from Louisiana State University and completed his Master of Criminology and Justice from Loyola University New Orleans, where he is now adjunct faculty. He is also a Galaxy Gives fellow and a Represent Justice Ambassador.

Fred Kammer is a priest, an attorney, and a member of the U.S. Central and Southern Province of the Jesuits.  From March 1, 2009 to July 31, 2021, he was the director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute [JSRI] at Loyola University New Orleans.  JSRI is a collaborative project of Loyola University and the Jesuit Province offering research, social analysis, theological reflection, and practical strategies for improving the social and economic conditions of the Gulf South, with particular focus on issues of poverty, race, and migration in the light of Catholic social teaching. He is now on sabbatical for the 2021-22 year, awaiting a new assignment from the Jesuit Provincial afterwards.

From 2002 to 2008, he was the Provincial Superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus, guiding their post-Katrina recovery and service to the devastated region’s poor and needy.  From 1992 to 2001, he was the President/CEO of Catholic Charities USA, the nation's largest voluntary human service network.    

Fred has worked in a number of programs for the underprivileged, both as a lay volunteer, an attorney, an advocate, and an administrator.  From 1990 to 1992, he was the Policy Advisor for Health and Welfare Issues, Department of Social Development and World Peace, U.S. Catholic Conference.  Prior to that, from 1984 to 1989, he was Executive Director of Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge.  Earlier, from 1977 to 1983, he was Director of the Senior Citizens Law Project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Fred is also a retreat director and author.  His first book, Doing Faithjustice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought, was published by Paulist Press in May, 1991 (second printing, 1992; third printing, 2005).  A fourth edition has been accepted for publication in late 2022 or early 2023. His second book, Salted with Fire: Spirituality for the Faithjustice Journey, was published in January, 1995, again by Paulist Press, and republished in 2008 by Wipf and Stock Publishers.  His third book, Faith. Works. Wonders.—An Insider’s Guide to Catholic Charities, was published in September, 2009 by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This New Orleans native received his J.D. from Yale University and M. Div. from Loyola University in Chicago.