Chapter 7- Chapter 9

In Chapter 8, Greg talks about people's differing beliefs regarding the definition of success. Many people measure success with the amount of money a person earns or the possessions he or she accumulates, but Greg insists that successes do not have to be visible, material outcomes nor the results long-term efforts. Instead, Greg says success can be measured in our faith and the little triumphs we experience daily.

My favorite success story was that of Soledad, a mother who experienced the loss of two of her sons. After the death of one of her children, Soledad sunk into a depression and could not muster up the energy to dress herself, wear make-up, do her hair, or face her community. One day, her eldest son suggested that her grieving had lasted long enough. He urged her to go get dressed up and stop her grief because there were people relying on her. That day, she got dressed up and wore some color-- a small success to outsiders, but a huge success for Soledad and her family.

Greg's story about Soledad made me think of what constitutes a success in my eyes. I first thought about the big picture and my overall life goals (graduating from Brown, getting a job, purchasing a house, and raising a family), but shortly after, I remembered why Greg chose to tell Soledad's story and why it was so significant to me. No success is too small. Keeping this in mind, I thought about our initial discussion topic: how can we feel like we are living in faith when there are so many things wrong in the world and only so much we can do? Greg provided the answer to that when he told us Soledad's story: look for all triumphs. Even if it only affects our family, community, or a small group of people, when we are faithful we are successful.

Please share a significant story or lesson from these chapters or the book overall. Also feel free to share your opinion of the book or ask any questions for the group.

Chapter 3- Chapter 6: Expanding our Jurisdiction

Although Greg has many powerful anecdotes and pieces of advice for us throughout these chapters, I found Chapter 6 to be especially relevant to my life and the overall perception of the Catholic Church. In Chapter 6, Greg talks about erasing the divide between jurisdictions, letting people in, accepting others, and how God accepts us all no matter how imperfect we are. As one of the missions of Homeboy Industries is to erase the divisions and rivalries between gangs, Greg is an expert at facilitating a forgiving environment where enemies can become friends and God can be let in. Even so, he faces many challenges as he tries to erase the divide. Most notably, he has to break down the barrier of revenge and anger because a person who holds onto those types of emotions is unable to grow.

We have all had problems with forgiving others, and these problems can bring ruin to families, friends, and our own peace. We may not have the pressure of stopping violence of gangs on our shoulders to persuade us to be forgiving and open, but there is still a definite urgency to letting go of all of our anger and prejudice so we can expand our personal jurisdictions.

On a broader scale, many of the people who criticize the Catholic Church do so because they believe we have a small jurisdiction. Just last week, my father told me that the Catholic Church near him in College Point, NY is in danger of closing. The administrators already had to cut the religious education classes at this school, and now it seems like the only answer to their financial problems is to close the church altogether. Throughout this conversation, my father compared this church's community outreach programs and general outside presence to that of other churches in the area. His conclusion: This Catholic Church is closing because it hasn't made itself necessary to the greater community.

After contemplation, I realized this also holds true for the church in my hometown of Hawley, PA. Sure, the church is necessary for me, but for someone who is unsure about his or her faith or in need of help, how likely would they be to come to the church and find the program that can help? I then looked online for common criticism of the Catholic Church. I found that many believe we are far too exclusive. This exclusivity is a reputation earned through the hotly-debated issues regarding our doctrine, but also because of our sometimes limited presence in the communities around us.

I have been very happy at Brown to see the BRCC so involved in the surrounding areas, but our involvement is not the norm across all Catholic communities. So my question for you is how can we as Catholics expand our jurisdiction? Do you believe we should add more outreach programs or is there another way for us to become a greater part of our communities?

Please share your opinion on this issue, pose a question of your own, or mention any noteworthy aspect of our reading. Thank you.

Introduction- Chapter 3: Life's Interuptions

To begin Chapter 2, Greg Boyle recounts a story about a woman named Carmen. This woman entered Greg's office on a Saturday, looking for some help at an incredibly inconvenient time, and Greg immediately labeled her as an interruption. This story seemed particularly powerful to me because Greg's entire job consists of reaching out to troubled people, yet even he felt unable to handle the pressures of maintaining his schedule while listening to someone in need.

Greg's challenge made me question what we as students, employees, volunteers, family members, friends, and whatever other positions we hold can do to help those who are in need. With schedules filled to the brim with assignments, meetings, work, and other responsibilities, we can't help but feel as though anything extra is an interruption or an inconvenience. For example, in our day-to-day lives, our busy schedules have caused many of us to adopt the habit of asking "how are you?" and not pausing long enough to truly listen to the reply. Or, when asked that same question, simply saying "I'm fine" because we are afraid to be an interruption to someone else.

Greg says that he feels shame for mislabeling Carmen as an interruption, but I feel shame for a different reason. I feel shame because I have mislabeled myself. Often, I think of myself as a student or worker before I see myself as a Catholic, and that seems to be the root of my mixed-up perceptions regarding interruptions. Therefore, in order to make my daily interactions fuller and more sincere, I hope to remember the power and help that a few moments of my time can provide. How can changing our perceptions of interruptions and inconveniences help us and others to live more gratifying lives on a larger scale as we consider the moral issues facing our world today?

Please share any story or aspect from this section of the book that stood out to you, comment on the Greg's tactics to bring communities together, answer a question, or pose your own. Thank you!