Voices and Perspectives
Kindness and Civility in Society?
A house divided against itself cannot stand. (Mt 12:25) As civil discourse deteriorates in our country, we run the risk of establishing a new and very negative “normative” for human behavior. Much of the responsibility for this trend rests with government officials who lie and demean others, rather ... Read More>
What Does It Mean for Us to Live with Jesus as the Bread of Life
Today’s The Weekly Word is a special edition that contains the video and transcription of Father Peter’s homily at his last Mass on August 4, 2024 before his passing a few days later. We hope you find inspiration from his final words. Click here to watch the video or read the transcripti... Read More>
Join A Faith That Does Justice’s Call for a Cease Fire in Israel and Gaza
Over the past few weeks, I have heard from many of you who watched my homily during which I expressed my anguish as a Christian and as a human being at the violence and loss of life in the Middle East. So many of you have experienced similar feelings and have expressed to me your desire to find a pa... Read More>
The Weekly Word: God is Present in the Midst of Human Suffering: Father Peter’s Homily at St. Cecilia Church
In his homily at St. Cecilia Church in Boston on Sunday, October 22, 2023, Father Peter called for an end to the violence in Israel and Gaza, and encouraged all Christians – all people! – to take up the mantel of peacekeeping, as we are called to do.... Read More>
A Faith That Does Justice Condemns the Violence between Hamas and Israel
This past weekend, Hamas, an Islamist militant group within Gaza, launched a surprise violent assault on Israel. It has resulted to date in over 700 deaths and thousands wounded in Israel. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has promise “mighty vengeance” in return with almost 500 Palestini... Read More>
Let Migrants Join the Massachusetts Workforce
A recent editorial in the Boston Business Journal (9-13-23) cited several reasons to let migrants join the workforce in Massachusetts. They are a part of the lifeblood of the Massachusetts economy and good for the state’s business, as they fulfill major workforce needs despite the steep short-term c... Read More>
A New Home and a New Beginning
As of June 1, 2023, A Faith That Does Justice (AFTDJ) moved its home to Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116. We have been warmly welcomed by the leadership at Emmanuel Church and even invited to expand our ministries as we establish our program there. Since arriving, AFTDJ has conti... Read More>
Accompanying the Homeless
Last April, A Faith That Does Justice (AFTDJ) interviewed Jim O’Connell, MD, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) during our most recent Fireside Chat. The viewing audience was large, and it was treated to a wonderful entrée to the world of healthcare and homelessness in ... Read More>
A House Divided
This past week the House of Representatives elected Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives. A Republican from California’s 23rd district and former House minority leader (2019-2023) and House majority leader (2014-2019), it took 15 ballots and an open rebellion from the far right ... Read More>
The Judeo-Christian Holiday Season
The Judeo-Christian traditions are in full celebration mode as we journey towards Hanukkah and Christmas and look forward in hope to 2023. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the Jewish people’s reclaiming of Jerusalem and the rededication the Second Temple during the Maccabean revolt aga... Read More>
Standing Against the Rising Tide of Violence Against the Jewish People
As we approach Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, we recall the Jewish people’s reclaiming of Jerusalem and the rededication the Second Temple during the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid empire during the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah commemorates the time of the temple’s rededication when only one ... Read More>
Thanksgiving: A Time for Healing and Action
https://faith-justice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Thanksgiving-2022.mp4 Our mid-term elections have come and gone. In their aftermath, one thing is certain. We are a nation divided and without an easy way forward to realizing our still unfilled belief: “that all men are created equal, that they a... Read More>
Vote Your Conscience!
Watch Father Peter discuss how to vote your conscience in the upcoming election. Our mid-term elections are upon us. Voting has begun in many States, and it will continue through November 8, 2022. Many of us have been besieged by political advertisements and endorsements telling us who to vot... Read More>
The Moral Responsibility of Providing Human Dignity
Recently, 50 migrants were flown to Martha’s Vineyard, MA, by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. He claimed,” We are not a sanctuary state, and it is better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures.” Howeve... Read More>
People of Faith: Called to Confront Human Sinfulness and Speak Truth to Power
A Faith That Does Justice denounces the recent action of Bishop Robert J. McManus, Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, MA, for taking the “Catholic” moniker away from Nativity School of Worcester, a middle school composed of mostly economically disadvantaged children of color, for displaying flags s... Read More>
A Message to Followers of A Faith That Does Justice Concerning the Outbreak of War in Ukraine
As people of faith and good will, we are called to seek and do God’s will, to foster the common good of all, and to denounce those who sow hatred and the desire for dominance over others. To do so, we must live our faith beyond our synagogues, churches, and mosques, and even beyond the well-intentio... Read More>
Move Beyond our Churches to Enter the Suffering of Others
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.” (Mk 7:6-7) Our readings this Sunday remind us that we are called to live truthfully what we believe and to practice faithfully what we preach. Religious rit... Read More>
My Jesuit Tertianship: A Third Time of Testing
During the summers of 2021-2022, I will participate in a Tertianship program of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in preparation for my profession of final vows. The Society of Jesus has a long formation process, on average ten years, before ordination to priesthood, and then several more years of past... Read More>
From MD to Justice: Peter Gyves’ Path to Nonprofit Leadership
Strife in Central America led Peter Gyves, SJ, MD to shift his focus from being a physician-scientist to helping others in their struggle for justice and, ultimately, founding A Faith That Does Justice, a Boston-based nonprofit that raises consciousness about social issues affecting the most vulnera... Read More>
The Jewish Prophets, Jesus and the Prophetic Voice Today, Part 8
The prophetic voice continues in history and it is that voice that is the subject of this final essay on the Jewish prophets, Jesus, and the prophetic voice in our world today. Although not recognized in a biblical sense, these courageous men and women challenge us, so often at their own peril, to l... Read More>