About eight years ago, I was making a presentation on the topic of religion and democracy to some grantees and partners at Democracy Fund.

During my presentation, a colleague texted our team group chat and joked, “Find yourself someone who looks at you the way John Carr looks at Chris while he’s presenting. He’s so proud.”

When I read the text, I chuckled. The feelings of admiration were mutual.

I have been thinking about that moment as John Carr prepares for his retirement from The Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. I’ve been thinking of that moment because while it was special, it was not unique.

Those of us who have known John Carr in this final chapter of his career have known him to be a connector, a supporter, and a mentor—the self-appointed dean of the “Sanity Caucus” within the Catholic Church. In his work at Georgetown, he’s been a key convener of conversations across lines of difference that can move our church forward.

For my own part, John’s support and friendship were essential in launching the Faith in Democracy program at Democracy Fund, faith-based initiatives across democracy organizations, and a career path that has allowed me to serve my church and my country at the same time.

It’s funny, now, to think how dire our situation in the Church and our politics felt back in 2017, when we first met. Then came the McCarrick abuse scandal. Then came the pandemic. Then came the racial reckoning. Within and across these major events, our democratic resiliency seemed to crumble.

John Carr and Kim Daniels did not flinch. They understood that the moral credibility of the Church on all other issues depended upon it responding forcefully to the abuse scandal. They convened powerful programming in public and in private. In a remarkable act of courage, John himself came forward as a victim of sexual misconduct in the Church.

When the pandemic hit, the Initiative shifted to online programming and actually expanded their reach. They platformed voices who would have been easily overlooked—like restaurant owners and domestic workers.

After the murder of George Floyd, the Initiative hosted difficult conversations on race. It was not easy. It was not comfortable. It didn’t always go smoothly—nor should it have. When it would have been easier to back away or remain silent, John and his team leaned in. They provided a safe haven for many of us who needed one—a space to ask questions and do our best to engage while knowing we might not get it exactly right each time. It was a space to learn during a time that required us to learn more.

In my own life, John has been a presence at major moments. When my family suffered a miscarriage, we didn’t tell many people in our professional circles. But I told John because I knew he would be helpful. He was.

When we celebrated the arrival of our son the following year, John declared him, “The most anticipated baby in the country,” and shared generous gifts as well as life lessons.

An underrated feat that John has pulled off with his worthy successor, Kim Daniels: A smooth transfer of leadership at the Initiative. The Initiative once relied on John’s reputation and connections alone. John and Kim have been thoughtful in the way that they have handed leadership to Kim over time, and she has delivered—expanding the staff and programming of the Initiative in exciting ways.

This is a retirement tribute, not a eulogy. So I don’t want to lay it on too thick. I’ll close with this: I don’t know John’s family well, but I know how much he treasures them. Before we could ever get down to the pressing topic at hand, each meeting started with a discussion of family matters. John’s a family man first and foremost, and I’m grateful to all of them who shared him with us over the years.

I’m just one bit player in John’s storied career, but he has been a pivotal player in my own. There are many of us.