Catholic Schools Week at San Gabriel Mission High School ended on January 31, 2013 with the amazing guest speaker, Father Greg Boyle, author of the New York Times bestselling book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.” As part of the religion curriculum at SGMHS, the entire student body had read Father Boyle’s book.
Father Boyle shared numerous real-life stories about gang members and the impact they have had on his life. He reminded us all how important community is and that we should all strive to “stand in awe in what the poor have to carry, not stand in judgment of what they carry.” Everyone listened attentively as each heart breaking story was heard. Father reminded us all that a gang member has “a lethal absence of hope, always fleeing something and seeing life as a misery.” He also interjected humorous stories as well while he educated the students, staff, and guests with his first hand experience with gang members.
As Father Boyle spoke, students learned how Homeboy Industries was founded in 1988 and is now “the largest gang intervention, re-hab, and re-entry program in the United States.” The Director of Mental Services at Homeboy Industries is a 1962 graduate of SGMHS, Mary Dunn Nalick. She is a retired attorney who volunteers for Homeboy Industries.
Father Greg Boyle definitely made a lasting impression on the students, faculty, staff, and guests of San Gabriel Mission High School. What a memorable day!
Junior, Hannah Navarro, Father Greg Boyle and Junior, Carolina Ibarra. -Courtesy photo
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