San Mateo (CBS 5)  -- John Kelly has been helping facilitate a weekly discussion group of inmates for several years. They start with a reading from the Bible, and they begin a conversation that can continue for years.

“We facilitate people taking a deeper and deeper look at themselves, what caused them to get there, what the potentials are for them changing,” Kelly says.

John's commitment to changing lives started decades ago, far away from prison walls. A former priest, John became Executive Director of Samaritan House, a community service agency in San Mateo.

"I had been involved in community stuff in the '70s, before I left the priesthood, so some of the people in the community asked me to come back," says John, who guided Samaritan House growth for 14 years.

The agency now runs a 90-bed shelter, a free medical clinic, a food pantry, and clothing store. All providing a critical safety net to 12,000 low-income residents in San Mateo County.

“I just want to give each person as much chance to be fully alive and be themselves as possible,” John says.

After years of service for his neighbors in San Mateo, John gave up his work at Samaritan House, and turned his energies to the big house, California's oldest correctional facility, San Quentin.

"I haven't the slightest fear of walking into that building. I relish going into it actually," John says.

John walked into Rico Riemedio's life when he was serving part of a 25-year sentence.

“It really changed me a lot,” Rico says. “Knowing there's somebody out here who cares about me, someone who's not related to me, makes me feel real good. This is something I never had before."

This past summer, Rico got out of prison, and is now enrolled in school.

“When I was in prison, I kept telling him ‘John when I get out, I’m gonna make you proud of me,’” Rico recalls.

"I think one of the biggest things for a lot of them is there are some people who really care,” John says. “A lot of them never had that experience really. So all of a sudden they start saying ‘hey, I can't be so bad.’"

John continues his visits to San Quentin weekly, attending masses, helping lead choir, and the spiritual group discussions.

"If I had a message to the world at large, it's don’t give up on anybody,” says John. “I don't care how bad they are, how desperate they are, how far out they are. As long as they’re breathing, they can still change."

For helping people change their lives for the better, this week's Jefferson Award goes to John Kelly of San Mateo.

By Kate Kelly

For more information on Samaritan House go to www.samaritanhouse.org.