A native New Yorker, inspired since his youth by St. Francis of Assisi, Mr. Donnelly has been active in support of the peoples of the Holy Land and the search for a lasting peace based on equal justice for the last 15 years, seven of which he lived in Jerusalem. He has served with and advised all the major Catholic organizations, both national and international. He has been active with various ecumenical and secular organizations, as well as at the United Nations as a nongovernmental organizations representative. Based on the closest possible encounters with the local Church and the native peoples in Israel and the Palestinian lands he was instrumental in developing the Living Stones Pilgrimage programs for American Christians visiting the Holy Land. Joseph is a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and has spoken to diverse audiences throughout the USA and Europe. Today he is both the International Delegate to the United Nations-New York for Caritas International and the North American Director of the Foundation for the Children of Bethlehem. He has also been a Board Member since 2002.
