Texas religious sisters care for their ‘sisters in Christ’ on death row

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Sister Pia Maria, third from left, and her fellow nuns of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, a contemplative order near Waco, Texas. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Sister Pia Maria

When Sister Pia Maria first set foot in the maximum-security prison that houses Texas’ female death row inmates, she was understandably nervous. Not only was she entering what was arguably the most dangerous part of the prison, but she was also about to spend some quality time with a group of women who had committed hideous, unspeakable crimes.

What would she say to them? Would she even make it out?

But when at last Sister Pia and her fellow nuns from the Sisters of Mary Morning Staractually came face-to-face with the condemned women, “all the barriers just dropped.”

“It was like we were just immersed, and we were friends, and we were talking, and we were laughing, and we were just at peace,” she recalled, speaking to CNA.

“There was a spiritual presence, and we were able to connect and bond on our first visit. It was just the grace of God — it was just amazing.”

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