RENEW Theology on Tap | Week 3

Rev. Greg Boyle | 'Creating a Community of Kinship Such That God Would Recognize It'

A nationally-recognized speaker, Rev. Greg Boyle has worked tirelessly to provide love and support for kids whose homes are so emotionally impoverished or destructive that they join gangs in search of a surrogate family.

He believes that community involvement is essential to bring about change, and he emphasizes the importance of not giving up hope.

Father Boyle will share his stories about his work and the young people he works with.

There will also be a question and answer period after his talk.

About Rev. Greg Boyle

Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J., is a Jesuit priest who is founder and executive director of Jobs for a Future/Homeboy Industries, an employment referral center and economic development program. Begun in 1988 for at-risk and gang-involved youth, Jobs for a Future is today a nationally-recognized center that assists 1,000 people a month in redirecting their lives. Through its unique and multi-service approach, Jobs for a Future offers hope to those for whom hope is often foreign.

Located in Boyle Heights, a community with arguably the highest concentration of gang activity in Los Angeles, Jobs for a Future provides employment opportunities, counseling and many other services (including free tattoo removal). By seeking to address the root causes of gang violence, Jobs for a Future creates opportunities so that at-risk youth can plan their futures and not their funerals.

"Nothing stops a bullet like a job" is the guiding principle.

In 1992, as a response to the civil unrest in Los Angeles, Father Boyle formed Homeboy Industries to create businesses that provide training, work experience and, above all, the opportunity for rival gang members to work side by side. The following economic development enterprises have been created since the first venture: Homeboy Bakery; Homeboy Silkscreen; Homeboy/Homegirl Merchandise; Homeboy Graffiti Removal; Homeboy Maintenance; and Homeboy Landscaping.

Father Boyle was born in Los Angeles. He received his bachelor of arts desgree in English from Gonzaga University, a master of arts degree in English from Loyola Marymount University, a master of divinity degree from the Weston School of Theology, and a master of sacred theology degree from the Jesuit School of Theology.

Before becoming Pastor of Dolores Mission (1986-1992), Father Boyle taught at Loyola High School and worked with Christian Base Communities in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He has also served as chaplain of the Islas Marias Penal colony in Mexico and Folsom Prison.

He is currently a member of the State Commission on Juvenile Justice, Crime and Delinquency Prevention, and serves on the National Youth Gang Center Advisory Board.

As executive director of Jobs for a Future/Homeboy Industries, Father Boyle is a nationally renowned speaker at conferences for teachers, social workers and criminal justice workers about the importance of adult attention, guidance and unconditional love in preventing youth from joining gangs.

RENEW Theology on Tap | Week 2

Monsignor Jim Gehl & Rabbi Jennifer Flam | 'Catholicism and Judaism: An Evening of Sharing Faith'

The basic tenets of Catholicism and Judaism will be presented.

Christianity holds its roots in Judaism. We will see how we are really more similar than dissimilar.

There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions.

Come join in a relaxed dialogue with two very engaging presenters.

Rabbi Jennier Flam serves Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills as its newest member.

Monsignor Jim Gehl is pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in La Cañada Flintridge.

About Monsignor Jim Gehl

Born in Chicago, Monsignor Jim Gehl attended Our Lady Queen of the Angels Minor Seminary and St. John's Seminary College and Theologate. He was ordained a priest in 1974. Monsignor Gehl was associate pastor of St. Elizabeth's Parish in Altadena, St. Mary's Parish in Palmdale and St. Michael's Parish in Los Angeles. He was pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Canoga Park. He is associate director of the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education. Monsignor Gehl holds a master of arts degree in family ministry from Fordham University in New York. Monsignor Gehl was director of the Archdiocesan Office of Family Life from 1993 to 2004. He was dean of Deanery 5, member of the Council of Priests, member of the College of Consultors for Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. He is currently pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in La Canada Flintridge. Some of Monsignor Gehl's favorite life and ministry words are faith, family, friends, collaboration, inclusivity and justice.

About Rabbi Jennier Flam

Rabbi Jennifer Flam joins the Temple Aliyah community as the newest member of its clergy.

Rabbi Flam was ordained from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of the University of Judaism in 2006. She holds master of arts degrees in rabbinic studies and Jewish education, as well as a bachelor of arts degree in European history from U.C. Santa Cruz.

Rabbi Flam spent many years living in Israel and studying at Hebrew University, the Conservative Yeshiva and Hebrew Union College. While in Israel, she held the honor of the Senior Educators Fellowship through the Melton Center for Jewish Education in the Diaspora.

In addition to her pulpit work, Rabbi Flam has extensive educational and organizational clergy experience. She has been a summer camp director, a program director, a conference coordinator, an educational administrator, a teacher and an organizer.

Rabbi Flam brings her strong sense of passion, creativity, and love of Judaism to the community.

"We most often think of prayer as something spoken, but it can also be expressed in other ways. What we say, what we do and how we do it all express God's presence,” said Flam. “Synagogue is not one thing, it is many things, like a collage. It is community, it is worship, it is celebration, it is connection, it is commemoration, it is alive, it is relevant, it is dynamic and it is a place in which each of us has the opportunity to forge connections with our history and our future."

Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament Fundraiser

On July 21 at 5:30 p.m., the young adults of Southern California Renewal Communities -- in partnership with the AACTS Young Adult Minsitry at St. Philip the Apostle -- are hosting a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament Fundraiser. Go to www.myspace.com/pokerfundraiser for tournament registration, rules, time and location information. (The MySpace site will be up June 23).

For those who have caught the Texas Hold'em Poker bug, here's your chance to take the skills you've learned playing against your friends and test them in a real poker tournament. No cash prizes. Get a chance to win a Nintendo Wii bundle, a day spa certificate, a Disneyland/California Adventure dual pass for four or other really cool prizes!

All levels of experience are welcome.

Several rules apply:

(1) You must be 21 years old or older to play; see www.myspace.com/pokerfundraiser for photo ID requirement.

(2) Two-time buy-in maximum; $30 initial buy-in; $25 optional second buy-in.

(3) Tournament proceeds will fund SCRC young adult ministry events at future SCRC conventions; food concessions will support the AACTS Young Adult Ministry (go to www.scrc.org and www.stphiliptheapostle.org for more info about these organizations).

RENEW Theology on Tap | Week 1

Bishop Gerald Wilkerson | 'The Parish: What Kind of Animal Is It?'

The parish of the 21st century — where have we come from, where are we now and where are we going?

What is the essential mission of the parish and what role do young adults play?

What do we, as young adults, need to do to deal with the kind of animal the parish is, and how do young adults fit in with the parish of the future?

Join Bishop Gerald Wilkerson for an engaging session that will help us understand exactly where we fit in with our parish, what impact we have now and can continue to have.

Bishop also opens the mike to questions.

About Bishop Gerald Wilkerson

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Bishop Gerald Wilkerson attended St. John’s Seminary and was ordained in 1965 by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre. He served in the archdiocese as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Habra, St. Michael in Los Angeles and American Martyrs in Manhattan Beach and for 15 years at Our Lady of Grace Church in Encino as administrator and then pastor. In 1996, Bishop Wilkerson was named episcopal vicar for the San Fernando Region and then ordained auxiliary bishop the following year.