The three finalists for the Opus Prize 2026 from left: Nontsasa Nyovane, Fr. Vitaliy Novak, and Fr. David Kelly. Photos by Meg Oliphant. 
DePaul University is honored to have been selected to host the 2026 Opus Prize. The annual award from the
Opus Prize Foundation honors individuals and organizations whose work, rooted in faith, addresses some of the most persistent social challenges of our time. The laureate is awarded $1 million, and two finalists receive $100,000 awards to support their organizations.
DePaul is pleased to announce this year’s finalists:
Fr. David Kelly (Chicago, IL, USA)
The Rev. David Kelly, C.PP.S., is a Catholic priest of the Missionaries of
the Precious Blood and the executive director of the
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR)
, a restorative justice organization founded in 2002 in Chicago’s Back of
the Yards/Englewood community.
Fr. Vitaliy Novak (Kyiv, Ukraine)
The Rev. Vitaliy Novak, C.M., is the founding CEO of Depaul Ukraine, which
for more than 20 years has been dedicated to serving people experiencing
homelessness.
Nontsasa Nyovane (Cape Town, South Africa)
Ms. Nontsasa Nyovane is the founder of
Siyakhathala
(“We Care”) organization in Harare, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Founded in 2009, Siyakhathala cares for children who have lost one or both
parents, often due to violence or HIV/AIDS.
Finalists
Learn more about the finalists and their incredible work.
Read more
Celebrate with us
We will name the Opus Prize laureate at an awards ceremony on Oct. 29,
2026. Check out more events where you can hear the inspiring
stories of our finalists and insights from our ambassadors who witnessed the
finalists’ work.
Explore Opus Prize Week events
RSVP for the awards ceremony. Details to come on the full week of events.
Attend an event
More about the Opus Prize at DePaul
The theme for DePaul’s Opus Prize year, “Uplifting the Dignity of All,”
reflects the university’s Catholic, Vincentian mission and commitment to
advancing human dignity through education and service. While the Opus Prize
Foundation partners with a Catholic university to award the prize each year,
the individual or organization receiving it may have roots in any faith.
DePaul has deep connections to the Opus Prize.
Alumnus Rami Nashashibi
(’95, LAS) was named
Opus Prize Laureate in 2018
for his community organizing, addressing poverty and disinvestment in urban
communities. He is the founder of Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).
Our entire community has shaped this initiative. Find out more about the
student, faculty and staff ambassadors who completed site visits, and the
faculty and staff who guided the work on our Steering Committee. Meet the
trustees and supporters who served on our jury.