![He was once called the devil. Now he’s baptized. He was once called the devil. Now he’s baptized.](https://news5alert.com/wp-content/uploads/https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/59/a59048d3-d14e-58a7-9760-c441bb8bc352/64a68e748035e.image.jpg?crop=1200,630,0,61&resize=1200,630&order=crop,resize)
Leon Robert Blais’ hands shake as he pulls a .45-calibre semi-automatic handgun out of his backpack.
He fires into the air, a warning for everyone to stay back. The look on his face is hard, but his hands shake so much he has to put the gun on the ground, so he can rummage in his backpack for the key he’s taken.
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The Sept. 23, 1995, headline in The Spectator about Leon Blais reads: “‘Bad kid’ behind breakout only 15.”
Standing with police
![handshake](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=150%2C97 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=200%2C130 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=225%2C146 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=300%2C195 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=400%2C260 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=540%2C351 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=640%2C415 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=750%2C487 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=990%2C643 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C672 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/85/4858c18d-19d8-502b-9f7e-c44e75522994/64a68e747f505.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C779 1200w)
Leon Blais stands outside St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in downtown Hamilton where on Fridays the De Mazenod Door Outreach hands out more than 500 meals a day to Hamilton’s most needy. Many in the line have known Blais for decades, both from his life of crime and his life of addiction that followed.
![pete_wiesner2_2_](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=150%2C102 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=200%2C136 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=225%2C153 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=300%2C204 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=400%2C272 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=540%2C367 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=640%2C435 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=750%2C510 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=990%2C673 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C704 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/55/c55e0f23-6ded-5d3e-a553-63cd2cbb033a/64a68e7476cf6.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C816 1200w)
Sgt. Pete Wiesner, who leads a team of police that works with vulnerable people to connect them with resources and divert them away from the criminal justice system, has witnessed a transformation in career criminal Leon Blais and now counts himself as an ally.
![w_dog](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=150%2C189 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=200%2C252 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=225%2C284 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=300%2C379 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=400%2C505 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=540%2C681 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=640%2C808 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=750%2C946 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/38/c3826127-91ed-50b8-8d93-78a80250d4eb/64a68e747c621.image.jpg?resize=951%2C1200 990w)
Leon Blais first came to St. Patrick church high on crystal meth and in need of a meal. Later he started volunteering. That turned into a full-time job, where today he can be found doing everything from picking up food deliveries, to mowing the lawn. His dog Christina is always with him.
![tony_o_dell](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=150%2C131 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=200%2C175 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=225%2C197 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=300%2C262 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=400%2C349 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=540%2C472 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=640%2C559 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=750%2C655 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=990%2C865 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C904 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/50/2504a6bd-9720-5db9-b9eb-0e5e82ec6cc9/64a68e747a5f2.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1048 1200w)
Father Tony O’Dell, who calls Leon Blais “my greatest success in many ways,” says Blais is trusted by the guests of St. Patrick church.
Addicts and Mob hitmen
![leon_blais_as_a_boy](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=150%2C106 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=200%2C142 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=225%2C160 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=300%2C213 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=400%2C284 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=540%2C383 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=640%2C454 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=750%2C532 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=990%2C702 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C734 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/25/c25986a1-dac9-5520-8830-2c18034806f0/64a68e747f6d0.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C851 1200w)
Leon Blais, right, was born in May 1980, the second of four boys, to Kathryn and Leon Blais.
![leon_santa](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=150%2C245 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=200%2C327 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=225%2C368 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C490 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=400%2C654 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=540%2C883 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=640%2C1046 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/4d/44d93414-b9e5-5c9f-bea7-341231cfa340/64a68e747a85f.image.jpg?resize=734%2C1200 750w)
A childhood photo shows Leon Blais with his brothers at Christmas.
The first arrest
![mugshot](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=150%2C188 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=200%2C250 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=225%2C282 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=300%2C375 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=400%2C501 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=540%2C676 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=640%2C801 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=750%2C939 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/33/53368cd8-2e11-501d-874b-ed2e11117808/64a68e7479ccb.image.jpg?resize=875%2C1095 990w)
As a teen, Leon Blais could not be named because he was a young offender. As his notoriety grew, The Spectator gave him the nickname Rudy.
A police shooting
Life changing toke
![garbage](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=150%2C104 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=200%2C139 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=225%2C156 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=300%2C209 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=400%2C278 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=540%2C375 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=640%2C445 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=750%2C521 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=990%2C688 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C719 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/01/4013ace4-496d-5762-8704-25cc5a421a66/64a68e747c5ab.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C834 1200w)
Leon Blais got his start volunteering at St. Patrick church by picking up trash.
The baptism
![in_church_portrait](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=150%2C232 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=200%2C309 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=225%2C347 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=300%2C463 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=400%2C618 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=540%2C834 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=640%2C988 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=750%2C1158 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d0/5d0bc219-c1ee-5bb0-9542-789669c0c9b3/64a68e747e221.image.jpg?resize=777%2C1200 990w)
While Leon Blais was initially resistant to becoming a parishioner at St. Patrick church, that changed too. After being drawn in by the music, he found faith.
![packing_food](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=150%2C89 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=200%2C119 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=225%2C134 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=300%2C179 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=400%2C238 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=540%2C322 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=640%2C381 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=750%2C447 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=990%2C590 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C617 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8479cade-b8ca-5e97-abb6-5d6ed79d9c7c/64a68e747a27d.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C715 1200w)
Leon Blais is seen here packing up bagged lunches for the De Mazenod Door Outreach. Last year, they served 122,000 meals and now they’re serving 500-plus meals a day.
Chalk butterflies
![humankind_gift_shop21836](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=150%2C105 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=200%2C141 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=225%2C158 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C211 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=400%2C281 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=540%2C379 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=640%2C450 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=750%2C527 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=990%2C695 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C727 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f5/ff50cd84-b061-595f-8f71-8eff2f9fa368/64a68e748c29f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C843 1200w)
Leon Blais turned an interest in chalk art into an entire program, including art classes once a month at the ministry’s gift-shop, humankind: Gifts That Matter.