One thing I love about Chautauqua Institution — where I spend the summer — is that it’s ecumenical and multi-faith, as you tell from the photo above.

Though I’m not Catholic, one of my favorite members of the clergy is Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest who founded the Homeboys Industry, which gives jobs and support for gang members in Los Angeles. Fr. Boyle was the chaplain at Chautauqua this week, and I was fortunate to hear him preach several times.

In one of his sermons, he told us that when Whoopi Goldberg was asked who was the person now living that she most admired, she answered Pope Francis because he was “going with the original program. We know the original program. It takes seriously what Jesus said about inclusion, non-violence, loving, kindness and compassion.”

He went on to quote St. Teresa of Avila, who said, “when we build a shrine where all are welcome, God will sing loud enough to be heard.”

How precious to spend a summer where all are welcome, where I can explore and ask questions about different faiths, and where I can walk the path of the original program.

I hope you’ve found a place like this, too.