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The Other Face of God: When the Stranger Calls Us Home
Mary Jo Leddy lives with refugees at Romero House, a temporary shelter like no other. She invites us to see them with the eyes of Christ and begin to know our true selves.
"There is an African saying that it takes a village to raise a child," writes Leddy. "At Romero House we say that it takes a neighborhood to welcome a refugee. And it takes a refugee to make a neighborhood." The Other Face of God will inspire you and give you a greater understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
"There is an African saying that it takes a village to raise a child," writes Leddy. "At Romero House we say that it takes a neighborhood to welcome a refugee. And it takes a refugee to make a neighborhood." The Other Face of God will inspire you and give you a greater understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
- GenresSocial JusticeFaith
150 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
4 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Leddy
11 books3 followersMary Jo Leddy is a Canadian writer, speaker, theologian and social activist.
Leddy is widely recognized for her work with refugees at Toronto's Romero House. She began working for the centre as a night manager in 1991, and has been active in human rights issues and the peace movement. She is an adjunct professor, Regis College, University of Toronto, and an active member of the Ontario Sanctuary Coalition.
In 1973, she was the founding editor of the Catholic New Times, an independent Catholic newspaper.
Leddy was the recipient of a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto with a thesis titled "The Event of the Holocaust and the Philosophical Reflections of Hannah Arendt." She studied under the direction of Emil Fackenheim, and she is currently a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto, and a board member of PEN Canada and Massey College. After thirty years as a member of the Roman Catholic Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, she left the congregation in 1994.
Leddy received the Human Relations Award of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1987, the Ontario Citizenship Award in 1993, and the Order of Canada in 1996. In 2014, she was awarded the Massey College Clarkson Laureate for Leadership in Social Policy.
She has received several honorary doctorates: D.Lett from York University, Toronto; D.H.Litt from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax; LL.D from University of Windsor; D.Litt from University of Waterloo, DD from Emmanuel College, University of Saskatchewan; and D.Min. from Catholic Theological Union, University of Chicago.
Her numerous awards include The Governor General’s Bronze Medal; the Canada Council Doctoral Fellowship; the Canadian University Presidents’ Award “Outstanding Young Woman of 1978”; the Ida Nudel Human Rights Award (1983); The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews Human Relations Award (1987); Award for Distinguished Contribution, Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada (1990); Best Publication Award, College Theology Society (Canada and USA); The Ontario Citizenship Award (1993); several press awards including best editorial, best news story, best theological reflection, best investigative journalism, best national newspaper, best campaign in the public interest. She has also received the Leighton Studio Residence (twice) Banff School of the Arts Award, Order of Canada (1996) and the Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award (2011).
Leddy is widely recognized for her work with refugees at Toronto's Romero House. She began working for the centre as a night manager in 1991, and has been active in human rights issues and the peace movement. She is an adjunct professor, Regis College, University of Toronto, and an active member of the Ontario Sanctuary Coalition.
In 1973, she was the founding editor of the Catholic New Times, an independent Catholic newspaper.
Leddy was the recipient of a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto with a thesis titled "The Event of the Holocaust and the Philosophical Reflections of Hannah Arendt." She studied under the direction of Emil Fackenheim, and she is currently a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto, and a board member of PEN Canada and Massey College. After thirty years as a member of the Roman Catholic Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, she left the congregation in 1994.
Leddy received the Human Relations Award of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1987, the Ontario Citizenship Award in 1993, and the Order of Canada in 1996. In 2014, she was awarded the Massey College Clarkson Laureate for Leadership in Social Policy.
She has received several honorary doctorates: D.Lett from York University, Toronto; D.H.Litt from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax; LL.D from University of Windsor; D.Litt from University of Waterloo, DD from Emmanuel College, University of Saskatchewan; and D.Min. from Catholic Theological Union, University of Chicago.
Her numerous awards include The Governor General’s Bronze Medal; the Canada Council Doctoral Fellowship; the Canadian University Presidents’ Award “Outstanding Young Woman of 1978”; the Ida Nudel Human Rights Award (1983); The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews Human Relations Award (1987); Award for Distinguished Contribution, Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada (1990); Best Publication Award, College Theology Society (Canada and USA); The Ontario Citizenship Award (1993); several press awards including best editorial, best news story, best theological reflection, best investigative journalism, best national newspaper, best campaign in the public interest. She has also received the Leighton Studio Residence (twice) Banff School of the Arts Award, Order of Canada (1996) and the Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award (2011).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2024
This book had me re-examining Jesus’ parable of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. More specifically the question “who really is our neighbour?”
All to often, society sees people living in the margins - the homeless, the unemployed and underemployed, those struggling to put food on the table, addicts, the mentally ill, and the disabled - merely problems to solve. More often than not, they become line items on the ledgers of government budgets. People focused on their property values and keeping up appearances will say “not in my backyard.” As a result, people who, due to no fault of their own, are forces to live in the margins become invisible, faceless.
Leddy offers that we meet those living in the margins on their level, face-to-face. She suggests that we don’t rob people of their humanity by taking time to hear their stories. The Samaritan in Jesus’ parable saw the man left for dead as more than just a a neighbour, he saw him a human being worth of care.
All too often our society warehouses people in hospitals and institutions and people are forgotten. They lose their humanity and they become invisible. If we are to truly love our neighbours as ourselves, we must do better.
All to often, society sees people living in the margins - the homeless, the unemployed and underemployed, those struggling to put food on the table, addicts, the mentally ill, and the disabled - merely problems to solve. More often than not, they become line items on the ledgers of government budgets. People focused on their property values and keeping up appearances will say “not in my backyard.” As a result, people who, due to no fault of their own, are forces to live in the margins become invisible, faceless.
Leddy offers that we meet those living in the margins on their level, face-to-face. She suggests that we don’t rob people of their humanity by taking time to hear their stories. The Samaritan in Jesus’ parable saw the man left for dead as more than just a a neighbour, he saw him a human being worth of care.
All too often our society warehouses people in hospitals and institutions and people are forgotten. They lose their humanity and they become invisible. If we are to truly love our neighbours as ourselves, we must do better.
February 8, 2018
Inspiring!
December 13, 2011
In The Other Face of God, Mary Jo Leddy shares stories of her life at Romero House, a home for people who are, for now, refugees seeking a new home. Her stories describe the lives of individuals with whom she has lived, and out of her experiences a theology of neighborliness and justice emerges. How does the stranger “calls us home”? In Leddy’s words, “Living in the shelter of each other, we begin to live in the neighborhood of God.” This is a powerful book, full of passion and deep faith. As I read, the prophet Micah’s words rang in my heart: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Read my full review on my blog light to read by.
Read my full review on my blog light to read by.
August 8, 2012
This is a challenging, and at times poetic, work of Mary Jo Leddy.
Stories of refugees she lived with in Romero House in Toronto provide the real persons who provoke in her a spirituality of the neighbor. Openness to the stranger can call us to our true selves, away from our imperial selves and the empire that sustains them.
Combining moving stories with reflections from writers as disparate as Hannah Arendt and Miroslov Volf, Wendell Berry and Jon Sobrino
Her theological reflection and political critique are rooted in the lived experience of people who are on the borders.
It’s a work I will return too later this year.
I heartily recommend it for those trying to leave a life of faith, mercy, and justice - being neighbor!
Stories of refugees she lived with in Romero House in Toronto provide the real persons who provoke in her a spirituality of the neighbor. Openness to the stranger can call us to our true selves, away from our imperial selves and the empire that sustains them.
Combining moving stories with reflections from writers as disparate as Hannah Arendt and Miroslov Volf, Wendell Berry and Jon Sobrino
Her theological reflection and political critique are rooted in the lived experience of people who are on the borders.
It’s a work I will return too later this year.
I heartily recommend it for those trying to leave a life of faith, mercy, and justice - being neighbor!
February 18, 2016
Very challenging for the usual North American reader - just the way I like it. The stories of the people themselves are so touching, too. I probably broke into tears at least a dozen times while reading this.
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May 31, 2017The book was too short It left you wanting to know more. The stories were very interesting and detailed. It was worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews