Village Connect
A message centered on compassion, belonging, and the belief that every person deserves dignity will take center stage as Jesuit priest and author Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, returns to the Philippines this September 2026.
Hosted by Elaine Kahn and Integra Wellness Center, Fr. Boyle’s Manila visit will focus on trauma-informed healing and “radical kinship”—an approach that encourages people to move beyond social divisions and recognize the humanity and goodness in others, particularly those who have experienced marginalization, violence, poverty, and incarceration.
On September 10 at 4:00 p.m., Fr. Boyle will lead “Finding Hope, Healing and Connection in a Divided World” at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center. Drawing from nearly four decades of working alongside former gang members in Los Angeles, he will share lessons on compassion, second chances, healing, and the importance of creating communities where people feel that they belong.
His Philippine visit will continue with a three-day retreat from September 11 to 13 at Rosary Hills in Silang, Cavite. The gathering will provide participants with a deeper exploration of radical kinship and challenge the idea of dividing society into “us and them.” At the heart of the retreat is a powerful question: What could change if society truly believed that no person was disposable?
Fr. Boyle’s advocacy traces its roots to 1986, when he became pastor of Dolores Mission in Los Angeles, then located in an area heavily affected by gang activity and poverty. Rather than distancing himself from young people involved in gangs, he reached out to them, listened to their experiences, and sought practical ways to provide opportunities and support.
That work eventually led to the establishment of Homeboy Industries in 1988. It has since grown into a major gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry organization, providing services such as employment opportunities, therapy, tattoo removal, and other forms of holistic assistance.
Fr. Boyle believes lasting transformation comes not simply from trying to “fix” people, but from helping them recognize their own worth and goodness.
His philosophy also complements the work of Elaine Kahn, founder of Integra Wellness Center, who previously brought Fr. Boyle to Manila in 2024 as part of efforts to promote whole-person and trauma-informed approaches to healing.
Through his return to the Philippines, Fr. Boyle hopes to encourage more people to build communities defined not by exclusion or judgment, but by connection, compassion, and shared humanity.
For inquiries, interested participants may email [email protected] or call 0917 173 2886.
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