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Father Greg Boyle, Priest

Welcoming the Unwelcome (Season One)

Overview

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Father Greg Boyle Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Everybody’s unshakably good." - Father Greg Boyle, The Thread

Father Greg Boyle reflects on being raised in Los Angeles and how his Jesuit upbringing and education led him to become a priest. He discusses creating Homeboy Industries and working with previous gang members with a focus on mutual transformation. Father Boyle connects the idea of holiness to health and being rooted in love rather than specific religious beliefs.

 

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Lesson Objectives

Social Studies

*Explore the intersection of faith, service, and justice

*Understand what social justice looks like through the work of Father Boyle

*Learn about moral courage from a very personal point of view

*Find inspiration in the power of one person to make a difference in their community

English Language Arts

*Explore the emotions of loss and grief and the capacities of resilience and courage

*Examine perspective taking from the point of view of one priest and social justice advocate

*Explore the idea of purposeful work and a meaningful life

*Use Father Greg Boyle’s episode as evidence to write a rhetorical argument, commentary, or synthesis essay

Social Emotional Learning: By offering engaging personal narratives, students can discuss and strengthen the five SEL competencies - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Media Literacy: Students will practice media literacy skills by analyzing information, points of view, and claims made in The Thread and be able to translate these strategies with all forms of media to make more informed decisions.

 

Father Greg Boyle Lesson | Teaching The Thread

First Take >

The "First Take" activity is a warm-up writing or conversation exercise created uniquely for The Thread to strengthen media literacy skills. Like an opening song in a musical, the first stanza of a poem, or even the first impression one person makes on another, the "First Take" asks students to reflect and share their initial thoughts and feelings about the episode’s opening and why the filmmaker and editor made these choicess.

Download Father Greg Boyle's lesson to access the complete “First Take” activity.

Father Greg Boyle Lesson | Teaching The Thread

The Thread Up Close >

 

After watching the interview, students will debrief and discuss the life story and engage in a close read and analysis of her interview using the "Welcoming the Unwelcome" episode and transcript.

In this lesson, students will discuss and reflect on the capacity of human goodness as a virtue and value.

Download the lesson to access “The Thread Up Close” activity.

 

Father Greg Boyle Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Welcoming the Unwelcome" >

 

In this lesson students will explore the title of the lesson and connect it to his statement "Love, it's still the fastest route."

Download the lesson to access the complete "Welcoming the Unwelcome" activity

Resources

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