The Church in the Boyle Heights
Father Gregory explains to readers the church's physical location and the number of years that it has existed there. The priest's description paints a picture of the sacred house of God to readers. The priest says, “The Church had been in Boyle Heights some forty years, nestled in the middle of two large public-housing projects, Pico Gardens and Aliso Village.”
The priest's first funeral presiding
Gang violence was the order of the day in Pico- Aliso area, and when the priest arrived, the first thing he had to do was deal with gang violence. During the funeral of one of the society members who died as a result of violence, the priest describes the mood of the relative, which paints a picture of the somber mood in the service. The author says, "At the funeral, Vicente peered into the casket of his brother, Danny. They were both wearing identical clothes. It was as if someone had slapped a mirror down, and Vicente was staring at his reflection."
The body of a gang member
The description of the dead body of a gang member depicts the sense of sight to readers. The author writes, “I can remember standing outside police tape on an early Sunday morning, just around the block from the church. The body of a gang member was lying on the ground, partially covered with a sheet.”
The imagery of the sky
Father Gregory remembers sitting outside in the Pico gardens, and the sky was smoky, a description that helps readers visualize the setting of the narrative. The priest says, “The sky blackened with smoke, reached every corner of the city. I sat on the stoop of an apartment in Pico Gardens with a huge gang member, a short-caller.”
