Each week throughout 2020, parishioners in the Diocese of Parramatta were invited to watch a video and discuss their response to a number of questions as part of our popular ‘Saturday Sessions’.
Over the holiday break, we’re replaying some of the most popular videos for you to watch, then use the questions to uncover your own feelings and thoughts about the topic. Feel free to share with others too!
“Compassion and Kinship” – Fr Gregory Boyle SJ
About the Presenter:
Fr Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, is an acknowledged expert on gangs, intervention and re-entry and today serves on the U.S. Attorney General’s Defending Childhood Task Force.
Homeboy Industries traces its roots to “Jobs For A Future” (JFF), created in 1988 by Boyle at Dolores Mission. To address the escalating problems of gang-involved youth, he and the community developed an elementary school, day care program and sought legitimate employment for young people.
Homeboy Industries, now located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, is recognised as a national and international model for youth seeking to move beyond gangs and achieve a life of hope.
Questions to Ponder:
- What struck you most about Fr Greg’s presentation?
- “Anybody just wants some attention”. Who is this for you?
- Have you had experience with a community of kinship – particularly with people whom you wouldn’t normally associate with?
- What does Fr Greg’s talk teach us about relationship and kinship?
- “The us and them” – how do we stand against the idea?
- Which stories from Fr Greg resonated with you, or sparked something in you and why?
- How would you define compassion? What does a compassionate community look like?
- Whilst compassion and kinship are the key to Fr Greg’s talk, what other virtues or qualities are evident in Fr Greg’s approach?
Get ready for the 2021 series of Saturday Sessions. The schedule is available on our events calendar on www.parracatholic.org.
