Project Report: Father Bruce from the Back of the Yards Community in Chicago

Father Bruce Wellems is an extraordinary person dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children. As the pastor of Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in a community known as the Back of the Yards, his parish is setting a model for young people. The neighborhood is populated by generations of immigrants since the 1800s. Today the Back of the Yards is a predominantly Mexican-American community with a 90-percent Catholic population, but it is also ridden with gangs, causing many students to drop out of school and resort to violence. By creating after-school programs, summer camps, Boystown of Chicago and keeping the Catholic faith alive and noticeable within the disparaged community, Father Bruce has inspired hundreds of kids to go to college.

By Bree Tracey

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Project
• Report
• Pkg

[vivianapk]

hey Father Bruce thank you 4 all u do 4 da community. you are a great man and an inspiration to all of us. we should b grateful to have a great man like you in the neighborhood. and dis is from both me and joseph.

[johnglund]

thumbs up, bree!

[newbiecam]

Excellent Video, Touching !