World Beyond Tears: The ongoing story of Father Chris Riley

by Sue Williams

In this follow-up to the bestselling and widely praised MEAN StREEtS KIND HEARt, Sue Williams takes up the inspiring story of maverick priest Father Chris Riley and his mission to help society's most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Youth Off the Streets, Father Chris's struggling charity, has begun to extend its reach both abroad (to Eastern Europe) and locally, as Father Chris sets up his first shelter for Aboriginal children. then, when the tsunami hit SE Asia, Father Chris faced new challenges - setting up Off the Streets in devastated areas like Banda Aceh, while negotiating civil strife and religious conflict. His ability to transcend enormous odds is a testament to his belief in a shared humanity. WORLD BEYOND tEARS takes in Father Chris's new challenges abroad - extending his reach to help children in Asia and Europe - and in Australia, where he has set up his first home for Aboriginal streetkids, with the emphasis on helping them discover their own cultural past as well as encouraging them to have a stake in their futures.

281 pages

Published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Tony Cinque · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

To (poorly) paraphrase Fr Chris Riley, look intently at the face of that person, until you recognise the face of Christ in him or her. And then know that you can accomplish anything to help them.

Whilst this book touches on several programs set up by YOTS (Youth Off The Streets), it specifically deals with the aftermath of the terrible tsunami that afflicted Banda Aceh, and demonstrates what is possible in helping our fellow human beings, without religious pronouncements, without delay. fear or reservation.

RIP Fr Chris, you’ve earned it.

[David Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is no doubt that Father Riley is an achiever. I rated as two stars as a result of the books somewhat patchy story-telling as it leaps from Indonesia to Sydney and back again. Some further formatting and editing would make the book a more enjoyable read.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I defy anyone to read this book and not instantly want to donate to Youth off The Streets. Father Chris Riley is obviously passionately dedicated to helping children, including children no one else wants to help such as kids who abuse other children. It is fantastic to hear that he is advising high-level government on the best ways to set up programs.

Father Riley is clearly not the easiest person to work for and I certainly would have trouble coping with his management style. It would be extremely frustrating to find out, on a public holiday, that he has set up a new scheme without telling anyone and the phones are ringing out because nobody is answering them (it being a public holiday and no one being informed that an emergency program has been initiated). However luckily lots of volunteers don't mind being pushed to their limit without being consulted on anything, and it is in a very good cause indeed.

Father Riley's methods seem to work extremely well; his group was the first to actually get aid on ground in Banda Aceh after the tsunami, to the annoyance of the other charities who were still bound up in red tape in Jakarta. His group was also the first to work in cooperation with the Islamic charity that operates throughout Indonesia, an incredible feat considering Father Riley wasn't even aware that Banda Aceh is 99.5% Muslim and so strictly conservative that it practises sharia law, and had done no consultation with locals before arriving.

The book itself was somewhat meandering as there are so many very different programs Father Riley has set up, and many different workers were interviewed for each program, so that it is very hard to keep track of who is who. On reflection I think the author was right to include all the different programs, but perhaps could have reduced the number of people she quoted.

Very highly recommended as a moving and thought-provoking read.