JustFaith Book Discussion - The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness
Sunday, March 20, 2022
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The JustFaith Social Justice Action Group of Holy Family invites you to join them on a lenten book read of Fr. Gregory Boyle's new book The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness. Conversation and book discussion is planned for Sunday, March 20, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. We will meet in the Common Room which is located on the 3rd floor of the Monastery Building at Holy Family.
About the Book
Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest and author of the inspirational bestsellers Tattoos on the Heart and Barking to the Choir returns with a call to witness the transformative power of tenderness, rooted in his life experience counseling gang members in Los Angeles. Boyle's moving stories challenge our ideas about God and about people, providing a window into a world filled with fellowship, compassion, and fewer barriers. Bursting with encouragement, humor, and hope, The Whole Language invites us to treat others - and ourselves - with acceptance and tenderness.
Reviews from Goodreads/Amazon
"I am not a religious person, but I am a spiritual, hopeful one. Boyle’s glass-is-half-full approach to a loving higher power lifts me up when I'm most in need of a boost. It helps me to better understand humanity, find empathy and embody grace. His stories of sworn enemies achieving commonality and friendship make me laugh and bring me to tears."
"The Whole Language" offers messages needed always, and especially needed now. Gregory Boyle writes and speaks God's loving truth with his every word - crossing all religions and bringing together the work of so many different people - from Hafiz to Mr. Rogers.
The book was written during the early months of COVID-19, and I think that matters A LOT as we reflect on the text, where we are at this moment in our collective history, and our own reflections on God in times that feel so polarized. His book breathed life into me. It made me ponder why we don't speak of love when advocating for justice? And it made me dare to imagine a "no matter what" kind of God who loves me, often in spite of myself. The book is great. If you're burnt out, worn down, frustrated, whatever the case may bethis book is worth your time!
About Fr. Greg
Gregory Boyle, or "G Dog" as referred to by his Homies, is an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted in the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, the White House named Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame's 2017 Laetatre Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. He is the acclaimed author of Tattoos on the Heart and Barking to the Choir. The Whole Language is his third book and he will be donating all net proceeds to Homeboy Industries.
Formed in January 2015, the JustFaith Social Justice Action Group of Holy Family started with 15 individuals on a 27-week journey of study and discussion based on the JustFaith Ministries nationwide program, which is designed to gain an understanding of the root causes of many of our broken social systems in the US and abroad. Topics included poverty, racism, immigration and refugees, homelessness and more.
Since completing the program, the group has opened its arms to the broader faith community at Holy Family and volunteers in areas of poverty, racism, immigration, women’s mental health and prison reform. In addition to a variety of volunteer opportunities, the JustFaith group also hosts a variety of events throughout the year to raise public awareness about these issues.
We continue to welcome members of the Holy Family Faith Community to become involved in our JustFaith efforts in any manner they feel called. Please contact us at justfaith@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information.