- Feb 5, 2002
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As we prepared to enter the prison facility, I could easily sense the awkwardness and bewilderment of the prison staff wondering what in the world a group of Priests, religious and laity are up to. Even more, was the staff's curiosity of what they did not realize was Jesus Christ being carefully housed in a lunula and covered with Fr. Roger Landry’s humeral veil and chasuble. With great care, we processed into the religious services building where inmates would attend religious services, bible studies, Catechism classes, receive spiritual direction, and attend Mass every Sunday for Catholic inmates.
There was visible excitement from the inmates who had the opportunity to serve at Mass with Bishop Fernandes and Fr. Roger Landry. I could see from their facial expression that today was to provide a spiritual reprieve from the daily walk of prison life. As men continued to enter the auditorium in preparation for Mass and Holy Hour, several made a straight line to the confessionals in the back of the auditorium. There was no need to urge these men to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, they knew exactly what they were walking into, a sincere penitent who eagerly desired to be forgiven and loved by His Father.
One of the first men who took advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation was a burly individual, I will call him Rich who did not hesitate to receive the healing salve of Jesus Christ. As the line for confession began to subside there was an opportunity to listen to personal testimonies. The pilgrims who had traveled as part of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage provided a summary of their journey and personal testimony of how the pilgrimage had impacted their lives which the inmates respectfully tried to relate to. As the next missionary was preparing to offer her testimony, I asked my colleague who had ministered to the inmates for some time if there was an inmate who would be willing to give his testimony. He emphatically said “yes” and immediately approached one of the inmates who expressed his reservation about sharing his story, he then went to plan B which through God’s grace was plan A.
Continued below.
knowingisdoing.org
There was visible excitement from the inmates who had the opportunity to serve at Mass with Bishop Fernandes and Fr. Roger Landry. I could see from their facial expression that today was to provide a spiritual reprieve from the daily walk of prison life. As men continued to enter the auditorium in preparation for Mass and Holy Hour, several made a straight line to the confessionals in the back of the auditorium. There was no need to urge these men to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, they knew exactly what they were walking into, a sincere penitent who eagerly desired to be forgiven and loved by His Father.
One of the first men who took advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation was a burly individual, I will call him Rich who did not hesitate to receive the healing salve of Jesus Christ. As the line for confession began to subside there was an opportunity to listen to personal testimonies. The pilgrims who had traveled as part of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage provided a summary of their journey and personal testimony of how the pilgrimage had impacted their lives which the inmates respectfully tried to relate to. As the next missionary was preparing to offer her testimony, I asked my colleague who had ministered to the inmates for some time if there was an inmate who would be willing to give his testimony. He emphatically said “yes” and immediately approached one of the inmates who expressed his reservation about sharing his story, he then went to plan B which through God’s grace was plan A.
Continued below.
The Evangelist I Never Expected | Knowing Is Doing
knowingisdoing.org
