Father Greg Boyle returned to Chevalier’s
FR. GREG BOYLE, founder of Homeboy Industries.
Photo by Eric Pulitzer
“When I was a youngster living in the neighborhood, I often came to Chevalier’s and always was amazed that it was such a big bookstore,” said the Rev. Gregory Boyle, emphasizing the word “big.” His point was that he was little then, a point well received by one of the largest audiences to attend an author’s event at the venerable book store, 78 years old this year.
Many of Boyle’s other remarks at the event brought some in the audience to tears, as he responded to questions from author Celeste Fremon who, in 1995, wrote “G-Dog and the Homeboys” about Boyle.
Greg Boyle grew up on Norton Avenue in Windsor Square, attended St. Brendan church and school, and Loyola High School. He became a Jesuit and a priest thereafter. In 1988, Boyle and some caring business owners founded Homeboy Industries. It has become an extremely successful program to provide “hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community,” as more fully described at homeboyindustries.org.
The Chevalier’s talk was focused on Father Boyle’s recent book, “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship,” that evolved from his work at Homeboy.
The book is a collection of stories, ideas and parables based on Boyle’s 30 years of working with gangbangers, or “homies,” and their families. “Barking to the Choir” and Father Boyle’s earlier book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion,” as well as Fremon’s book, may be obtained through Chevalier’s Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd. See: chevaliersbooks.com.
Category: Entertainment
