Some books and a video about a heroic priest and his ministry

Some books and a video about a heroic priest and his ministry July 20, 2019

Sometime back I mentioned the work of Fr. Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries and linked to a great speech he gave.

Today, I thought I would post links to some books by Fr. Boyle and about his work. The first…

…is an authentic portrayal of hope, dignity, reconciliation and transformative healing. Captured in penetrating photographs and accompanied by intimate stories and poetry written by former gang members, it opens a compassionate window into their valiant determination to become valuable contributors to their families, communities, and society at large. This 200 – page book commemorates 30 years of Homeboy Industries and the thousands of young men and women who have walked through its doors seeking a second chance at life – those who were never offered a first. Alison Fogg Carlson, is native of England who has lived in San Francisco for 35 years. She is a mother, winemaker and author of The Man Within. Preeminent photographer, Michael Collopy, internationally known for his remarkable portraits of public figures, is the insightful and passionate photographer for this book. Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, is the founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. Walking In Grace is beautifully weaved together by the hard earned words of wisdom of Father Gregory Boyle.

The second, by Fr. Boyle himself…

is described this way:

For twenty years, Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he distills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.

Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyle’s gentle, hard-earned wisdom.
These essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love and the importance of fighting despair. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.

The third, a follow-up to Tattoos on the Heart is…

And if you’d rather just watch a video about this great man…


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