The people responsible for establishing the Kolbe Mission have the expertise and passion to make it a reality. The Kolbe Mission is the vision of many people who share the calling to serve those who suffer from addictions. This page includes biographies of some of them.
Kevin Starrs
Vice President
Kevin has been dedicated to serving at risk youth and young adults for the past 40 years. He has worked for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Office of Prison Ministry, for 27 years (1994 to present), and is currently the Director. Prior to that, he worked as Outreach Coordinator for the City of Chandler and Chandler School District (1991 to 1993), and Director of the Chandler Branch of the East Valley Boys & Girls Club (1981 to 1991). Kevin has been married to Silvia for 25 years. They have 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Kevin and Silvia have mentored many youth and young adults throughout their marriage. He has been an active and devoted Catholic since his adult conversion and recovery from a 10 year daily drug habit. He credits his relationship with Our Lord Jesus and His Church for his healing and recovery from marijuana use and family trauma. Kevin knows firsthand the healing power of Our Lord, Christian community, and the sacraments.
Jason Kelly
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Jason Kelly is a 5th Generation Arizonan and a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier, with active and deep roots in the Arizona Catholic community. He is an accomplished trial attorney and martial artist. Jason volunteers his time and talents with many non-profit organizations, starting with suicide prevention and healing organizations in the late 1990s. While working for a family on a lawsuit involving a prisoner suicide, he felt called to begin working in prison ministry. He quickly saw the links between mental health, prison, and drugs. Seeing no programs offering a “whole person” approach to healing including an active spirituality, he began working with Kevin Starrs to bring the Kolbe Mission to Arizona and our Diocese.
Father Andrew McNair
Spiritual Advisor for The Kolbe Mission
Fr. Andrew McNair is a native of Swansboro, North Carolina. He entered the seminary in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 1997 in Rome, Italy. He studied classical humanities in Salamanca, Spain, and philosophy and Theology in Rome. Before ordination, he served as a missionary for three years in the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, working with the Mayan natives.
After finishing his graduate studies, Fr. Andrew taught Theology at Mater Ecclesiae College, in Greenville, Rhode Island for eight years. During this time, he was a columnist for the National Catholic Register. In 2008, Fr. Andrew was assigned to parish ministry and appointed chaplain for the Office of Black Catholic Church Ministry in the Diocese of Providence, R.I. He served as assistant pastor of Holy Spirit parish in Central Falls, R.I., for two years and as assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption in Providence, R.I for one year. In 2012, he was appointed pastor of SS John and James parish in West Warwick, R.I.
In 2014, Fr. Andrew was appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Southern Pines, North Carolina for a term of 6 years. In 2016, he was installed as Chaplain for African American Catholics for the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina for a term of three years.
On April 18th, 2021, Bishop Olmsted appointed Fr. Andrew as Chaplain for the African American Community for the Diocese of Phoenix. In addition to this, Bishop Olmsted appointed Fr. Andrew as Spiritual Advisor to the Kolbe Mission, and to the Prison Ministry for the Diocese of Phoenix. Fr. Andrew hopes to serve in the Diocese of Phoenix for many years to come.
Mauricio R. Delgado
Board of Directors
Mauricio was born and raised in south central Phoenix. He’s a single father of three children. As a young person Mauricio was influenced by local gangs, and got into trouble with the law. He spent seven years in prison. After leaving prison, Mauricio struggled with alcohol abuse, and spent time in a rehabilitation facility. Mauricio knows firsthand the need for an addiction recovery home that’s based on Catholic spirituality. He has successfully turned his life around. He is a volunteer for the Diocese Prison Ministry, and runs the drop-in center at St. Pius X Parish, for men who have been released from prison. He has been a financial advisor for the last seven years. He frequently attends daily Mass at St. Francis Xavier Parish. Mauricio is passionate about helping those who have experienced struggles similar to his own.
Margaro Lira
Board of Directors
Margaro comes from a background shared by many of those who the Kolbe Mission will serve. He was raised in south central Phoenix, where he got involved with gangs and drugs. This lifestyle led to a seven year prison sentence. After leaving prison he continued to struggle. He was inspired to change his life by crying out to the Blessed Mother, who in turn led him to a strong relationship with Jesus. Margaro was the Outreach Director for the Diocese of Phoenix Ministry for one year, until the Diocese had to reduce staff due to the pandemic. Currently he is a volunteer with the Prison Ministry. Margaro runs his own drywall business. He is a single father of six children. Margaro knows firsthand the devastation of drug and alcohol abuse, and has a strong desire to help others achieve freedom from addiction.
Joe Lester
Board of Directors
Joe has been active in Catholic ministry in Arizona for 35 years. For the last 4 years, as a volunteer for the Diocese of Phoenix Prison Ministry, he has served men in jail by doing Catholic services, one-on-one visits, and coordinating volunteers at a county jail. He is an electrical engineer, and worked in the Communications field for 35 years for Motorola and Nokia before retiring. Joe and his wife, Mary Ann, have three grown boys. Mary Ann was a volunteer and staff member during the beginning days of Andre House, which serves the poor and homeless in Phoenix, and she continues to volunteer there. Joe and Mary Ann have personally experienced the tragedy of drug addiction of a family member, and have seen the need for a treatment center in the Phoenix diocese that takes advantage of the unique gift of the Catholic sacraments and teachings.