September 05, 2007

Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., Renowned “Gang Priest” to Speak at Holy Cross During Jesuit Heritage Week

WORCESTER, Mass. – Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., a Jesuit priest renowned for his work with at-risk youth in Los Angeles, will deliver a presentation, titled "The Jesuit Heritage of Accompaniment: The Margins" on Thurs., Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary Chapel. During his talk, Fr. Boyle will describe his work with gang members and others who live in South Central Los Angeles, and how it is guided and strengthened by Jesuit principles.  The lecture is part of the College's Jesuit Heritage Week, which will be celebrated from Sept. 23 – 28 with a series of guest lectures, liturgies, discussions and other events.  Fr. Boyle's talk, and all other Jesuit Heritage Week events, are free and open to the public.  

Fr. Boyle, who received an honorary degree from Holy Cross in 1998 and has spoken at Holy Cross previously, has spent much of his life determined to help end gang violence and raise awareness about the causes of gang violence in the U.S. He is the founder and executive director of Jobs for a Future/Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.  His widely-acclaimed organization provides employment, training, counseling and tattoo removal — among other services — for ex-gang members and those at risk of becoming involved in gang culture.

A Los Angeles native, he earned an M.A. from Loyola Marymount University, and the Weston School of Theology, and an S.T.M (Masters of Sacred Theology) from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. From 1986 to 1992 Fr. Boyle was a pastor of Dolores Mission, the poorest church in the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese. The parish is home of the largest public housing developments west of the Mississippi and the highest concentration of gang activity in the city of Los Angeles. He is also the subject of the book G-Dog and the Homeboys by Celeste Fremon (University of New Mexico Press, 2004), which tells the story of his successes with his unconventional ministry.

Additional events planned during Jesuit Heritage Week:

All events are open to the public.

• Sun., Sept. 23, 7 p.m. in Mary Chapel: Holy Cross Jesuits will concelebrate Mass, where Rev. James Miracky, S.J., associate professor and chair of the English department at Holy Cross, will preach.
• Mon., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Rehm Library: "Ignatian Values: Jesuit Lives" is the theme of a panel discussion with five Holy Cross Jesuits including Rev. Tom Hamel, S.J., and Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J.   
• Tues, Sept. 25, 4 p.m., at the Rehm Library: "Jesuit Styles of Scientific Thinking," a talk by Rev. Louis Caruana, S.J., senior lecturer in philosophy, Heythrop College, University of London. Reception to follow.  
• Wed., Sept. 26, 4 p.m., in the Rehm Library: "Ignatius of Loyola:  Pilgrimage by Photo."  Theresa McBride, professor of history, and Kristine Cyr Goodwin, associate dean for student life, will talk about their personal experiences as pilgrims retracing the steps of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Spain and Italy. Reception to follow.  
• Fri., Sept. 28, at 4:30 p.m. in Rehm Library. "The Jesuits and Maryland's Early Catholics of Color and their Descendents: Perspectives on a Close and Complex Relationship," a talk by Timothy Porter '68, former trustee and guest lecturer. Porter, the senior labor and employment counsel for Proskauer Rose in New York, has a long family history linked to involvement with and service to the Jesuits — dating back more than 300 years. He has supported the Jesuits' emphasis on internationalism and multicultural understanding by establishing an endowment named in honor of his ancestors to aid Holy Cross students studying abroad. 

Jesuit Heritage Week is sponsored by the Office of the Chaplains, the Office of the President, the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, the Jesuit Community at Holy Cross and the Jesuit Heritage Week planning committee.

For additional information contact Cristal Perriello at 508.793.2419