Father Greg Boyle is a Jesuit priest, best-selling author, and the founder of Homeboy Industries, and on Tuesday, Oct. 2, he’ll be sharing his story with students at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai.
Homeboy Industries is the world’s largest and most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program. Father Boyle and his associates have built a social model of hope and healing for former prisoners and gang members who are looking for a fresh start.
Father Boyle will celebrate Mass with the Villanova school community at 9:30 a.m. After Mass, he and two other members of Homeboy Industries will be sharing stories about their work with gang intervention and rehabilitation. They’ll discuss the importance of building communities, unconditional love, and inclusivity.
“We are very excited to have Father Greg on our Villanova campus” said Nancy O'Sullivan, Head of School at Villanova. “Father Greg was scheduled to speak last year, but then the Thomas Fire happened and we had to close the school. This will be a special and inspiring day for our students, who have read his book in their English class.”
A native to Los Angeles, Father Boyle entered the Society of Jesus in 1972 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church from 1986 to 1992, where he began a job training program for at-risk youth that would eventually become Homeboy Industries.
Father Boyle is the author of the New York Times bestselling book “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.” In 2017, his second book, “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship,” was released. Bart’s Books will offer both books for sale at the event, and all proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to Homeboy Industries.
