“The corporal and spiritual works of mercy demand that we extend our hands and hearts, our presence and our prayers to those who are most in need and most often overlooked in our society,” Greene says. “The political works of mercy demand that we get to the root causes and strive to change structures that marginalize and oppress people; they are really works of justice.”

In his presentation, Greene, who has accompanied the homeless and advocated for justice with them for more than 20 years, will consider justice and mercy from the perspective of his experience in the streets.

An activist rooted in the spiritual and political tradition of the Catholic Workers Movement, Greene worked for Boston’s Pine Street Inn for nearly 20 years before assuming his current position for the City of Boston, where he has recently served as the chronic homelessness liaison for the Mayor’s Office.