Compassionate Houston’s Annual Luncheon 2025
Reflection & Appreciation
Thank you for celebrating and sharing “Boundless Compassion“ with us!
What a remarkable day we experienced at Compassionate Houston’s Luncheon, where community members, civic leaders, and changemakers gathered to hear Father Gregory Boyle speak.
His presence was nothing short of transformative as he shared his profound insights on compassion, kinship, and mutual transformation. His words resonated deeply with all of us, reinforcing the notion that we are all inherently good and belong to one another.
Father Boyle: “When we stand with those in pain - not to fix them but to be changed by them - we become the people we are meant to be.”
In a world often marked by division, his message of radical inclusion serves as a powerful reminder that true compassion begins with solidarity rather than service. As we gathered to listen, we were moved to reflect on how we can embody this spirit of kinship in our own lives and communities.
Special Thanks
This event would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of many individuals and organizations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board and luncheon committee volunteers, especially our luncheon chair, Kirby Attwell, whose expertise ensured a seamless experience for everyone. To our generous sponsors and donors, your support was instrumental in making our dream for this event a reality, and we couldn’t be more grateful. A special thank you goes to all the individual ticket purchasers and table guests whose presence added to the warmth and energy of the day.
After Board President Pam Lewis’ opening welcome, the Rev. Gena Davis, with our partner YogaMass, presented the invocation. Then, in traditional form, the annual luncheon began with the reading of the > Charter for Compassion, the foundational principles of Compassionate Houston. Our Charter readers, represented by three leaders of Compassionate Houston’s partner organizations and a Project Kindness mentor with his student, took the stage to share the Charter’s principles. Thank you, Rev. Davis and Charter Readers for your time and commitment within your organizations to strive for a compassionate community.
We deeply thank AiIeen McCormick for her vital and generous support of our luncheon and for introducing Father Boyle, and we are indebted to Charles Rotramel for his excellent discussion moderation with Father Boyle.
We thank our Meet and Greet participants, Blue Willow Bookshop for supporting Father Boyle’s work and nearly selling out his books, and the three community organizations—Prison Entrepreneurship Program, Restorative Houston, and Houston reVision—whose dedication to social change embodies the kinship Father Boyle advocates.
As we reflect on the success of the Spring fundraiser luncheon, we invite all participants and website visitors to explore our photo gallery from the event. Relive the moments of connection and inspiration that filled the room. We thank our photographer, Michael Costilla.
Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Together, we are making strides toward a more compassionate Houston and look forward to continuing this journey with all of you.
With gratitude, Board of Directors Compassionate Houston
We Look forward to seeing you again!
We hope many of you will join us for Compassion Week in November! Here is a short video from Compassion Week 2024 by our partner, Grace Episcopal Church, that provides a sense of the week’s exciting connections and Grace’s annual “Interfaith Music and Dance on the Labyrinth.”
If you have any questions or you're interested in volunteering with Compassionate Houston, we'd love to hear from you! Contact us > here.
Enjoy our Luncheon 2025 Photo Gallery
Thank you
““Humility returns the center of gravity to the center. It addresses the ego clinging, which supplies oxygen to our suffering. It calls for a light grasp. For the opposite of clinging is not letting go but cherishing. This is the goal of the practice of humility. That having a “light grasp” on life prepares the way for cherishing what is right in front of us.””
