• Sister Mary Francis Fletcher presenting the Ketteler Award to Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ

2013 Ketteler Award for Social Justice

On August 3, 2013, the Sisters of Divine Providence presented the Ketteler Award for Social Justice to Fr. Gregory "Greg" Boyle, SJ, at an event attended by 150 Sisters and guests. The award recognized Fr. Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, and his commitment to helping high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women, gain an education and job and life skills.

At the event, Fr. Greg spoke of the supportive community and sense of family that Homeboy Industries offers to those with whom they work. "Finding work is important, but 'connection' is critical to the healing process," said Fr. Greg. Homeboy Industries assists these young people on their journey to becoming contributing members of their families and communities. Fr. Greg’s work with the organization and those it serves parallels Bishop Ketteler’s unwavering support of the disenfranchised in Germany in the 1800s.

Fr. Greg is the author of the New York Times bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. To learn more about his work, visit www.homeboyindustries.org.