Chaplain Kristi Colosso
Police chaplain · Presence in the wake of tragedy
Chaplain Kristi Colosso answers the calls most people pray never come—stepping onto front porches to deliver death notifications after a suicide. Suicide calls make up the vast majority of her ministry, a reality established on her very first call as a chaplain, when she was tasked with notifying a wife and her ten-year-old son. While a second chaplain stayed to support the mother, Colosso sat beside the young boy, simply offering a quiet, non-judgmental space. As she prepared to leave, the boy embraced her and thanked her for allowing him to grieve in his own way.
The Architecture of Slowing Down Grief
In her Police Chaplain Project conversation, How to Slow Down the Grief, Colosso outlines the practical, unglamorous reality of what a chaplain actually does inside a home frozen by sudden shock:
Slowing the Pace of Crisis: Families in shock do not know what to do next or what resources exist. Colosso steps into that overwhelming void, reassuring family members with a single, grounding phrase: “You don’t need to make any decisions today.”
Mobilizing Support Networks: Rather than making speeches, she focuses on bringing immediate support systems directly into the room—calling trusted friends or extended family members to stand beside the grieving.
The Ministry of Patient Presence: Demonstrating that effective crisis intervention relies on patience, active listening, and a calm, unhurried presence while a family absorbs the worst news of their lives.
Through her contributions to the Police Chaplain Project, Kristi Colosso offers a masterclass in compassionate, patient crisis care—teaching candidate chaplains how to bring steadying dignity to moments of absolute heartbreak.