by MaryBeth Sproull

Bobby Kenney III had a chaotic upbringing, and he went looking for love in all the wrong places. This lifestyle landed him in many difficult situations and, eventually, prison. God’s love and mercy knows no bounds, however, and it was there that Kenney first encountered the Lord and first heard the words, “God loves you.” He met Christ while serving time, and it brought a new hope to his life. After jail, he entered the Church, met his wife, and now has a beautiful family and inspirational mission.

In 2019, Kenney felt called to start a clothing line, but wasn’t sure where to begin. So, he turned to the Lord and attended SEEK, a five-day experience where thousands of Catholics gather together to encounter Christ through prayer, Adoration, the sacraments, and inspiring speakers. While there, he asked God what He wanted from him and this clothing line. Immediately, in his mind’s eye, Kenney saw a young girl who appeared to have been crying. She looked in a mirror, and her tears stopped when she saw the words “You are Loved” written on her shirt. He knew then what to do, and the You are Loved Mission was born. Today, what started with T-shirts for purchase has grown into so much more…

Through his mission, Kenney brings love to the people who are homeless or in prison and to youth in the archdiocese. “God’s love is the foundation we all have to start from, because it opens our hearts,” Kenney said. “The goal here is to meet people in the poverty of loneliness and bring them to Christ.”

T-shirts can be purchased, including a buy-one-gift-one package so you can give a shirt, too. Kenney and volunteers also hold “Coffee on the Street,” where they hand out T-shirts, coffees, and business cards that say, “You are Loved,” to those in physical and spiritual poverty. They sit with people who are homeless and drug addicts, talking with them, sharing the Gospel, and building up the Kingdom of God. Kenney has painted murals in downtown Dayton and visits homeless shelters, men’s and women’s prisons, and St. Peter’s Youth Ministry. “I’m basically a full-time missionary,” he said. On top of all that, he is the coordinator for the archdiocese’s prison ministry.

Through You are Loved Mission, Kenney has encountered numerous people whose lives were changed simply by hearing about the love of Christ. “It’s amazing what the Lord can do through simple acts of love, like walking with people in prayer,” Kenney said. “No one is too far from God’s mercy.”

There are countless stories that demonstrate God’s mercy, but Kenney has experienced a few extremely powerful examples. When he was helping a man move into an apartment from a supportive housing shelter, they picked up items stored at his sister’s house. She suffered from cancer, so Kenney prayed with her, asking God to protect and heal her. A few weeks later, he got a call: she was in complete remission—her cancer had disappeared entirely!

Another time, a man reached out to Kenney through Facebook to buy T-shirts because he was entering prison soon and wanted to share the mission’s message as much as possible. Now in prison, the man is discerning religious life and has been pen pals with Kenney the entire time.

But Kenney doesn’t want to stop here; his future goals for You are Loved Mission include expansion. He brought on another missionary like himself this year who helps with Coffee on the Street, connects with parishes, visits shelters, and fundraises. He would love to add more people to his team in upcoming years and dreams of purchasing a trailer to store mission supplies. With this, he could take his ministry and outreach to new places, such as parish festivals, and have easier access to his supplies.

In a world where people’s lives seem dominated by social media and the internet, Kenney strives to be present in the here and now to witness to people and bring God to those who need His love the most.

This article appeared in the February 2026 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.