Beginnings

One of the awesome things about Sacred Scripture is the way it creeps up on you.  You can read a passage or hear it read a hundred times and each time something new springs out.  Or like an onion, another layer gets peeled back. Sometimes a message or meaning is so obvious, so in-your-face, that you wonder how you could have missed it.  One day, I had one of those moments while I was reading Matthew's account of Judgement Day, as illustrated by the Separation of the Sheep and Goats, and became finally, understandably disturbed by its implications.

Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'

"Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  (Mt 25:31-46)

Ouch.

Another awesome thing about Sacred Scripture is that it speaks to you where you live.  And that day, it really struck home.  That day, I realized that there were no two ways of looking at this parable -- these works of mercy are imperative to obtaining eternal life.  Feed the hungry.  Give drink to the thirsty.  Welcome the stranger.  Clothe the naked.  And visit the imprisoned.  "Oh, my!" I thought, "That last one may be a bit out of my comfort zone."

But a 'call is a call' and Christ never said that discipleship was going to be comfortable, so I began searching for the way God might be calling me to this work of mercy.  Shortly thereafter I plugged into Prison Fellowship Ministries and became a regular contributor -- but over time, realized that something was still lacking.  Although I have a profound respect for Chuck Colson and the ministry he founded, "visiting the imprisoned" to me entailed more than just a monthly check in the mail.  I was searching for a ministry in which I could actively participate; moreover, an intrinsically Catholic ministry.

Providentially, I ran across an article in a Catholic newspaper pointing me in the direction of a pair of wonderful outreach programs: one serving the spiritual needs of Catholic inmates through potentially life-changing weekend retreats, and the other fulfilling a temporal need by providing them with regular, personal contact via letter writing.  I said to myself: God is calling and it's time to visit...

That all started back in 2003.  I've had 7 different anonymous prison penpals since then and have been writing to as many as 3 concurrently.  Depending on the individual and particular circumstances, our correspondences may range from the routine to the deeply spiritual.  The prisoners welcome the distraction as well as the friendship -- they appreciate the escape, the hope, the guidance, and the window to the outside world that their penpals provide for them.

On a personal note, letter writing has provided me with an outlet to compose my thoughts and share my faith -- something group discussion or email can't provide.  As any religious ed instructor can attest to: we begin teaching in hope that we can in some small way help build up the Church -- plant a seed that will one day sprout and bear abundant fruit -- yet too find our own relationships with God and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ growing as a result.

The folowing two outreach programs are sponsored by the National Association of the Holy Name Society: Mary, Mother of Captives Prison Penpal Ministry and St. Dismas Prison Ministry -- both will be featured prominently here in the weeks and months to follow.  I'll be posting letters, poems, and testimonials penned by inmates, their penpals, friends, relatives, retreat team members, and chaplains, as well as prison ministry news and feature articles.

The purpose of this blog is simple: to provide venues to the countless good Catholics out there who are striving to imitate Christ by performing a vital work of mercy: visiting the imprisoned.

I'll close with a poem written by an inmate of the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, FL entitled: "I Promise I'll Be There For You"

If the road ahead seems rough at times,
we’ll walk it side by side;
And I’ll give whatever comfort
and support I can provide.

If you want someone to listen,
or just sit with you for awhile,
I will gladly keep you company
or share a hug and smile.

If you're tired of being brave
and you just need a time to cry,
You can let your feelings out
and I will never question why.

No matter what it is don’t ever hesitate
To say how my help could make life easier.

I’m not about to let you have
the slightest bit of doubt
That you’re Someone very Special
who is deeply cared about.

In whatever ways you need me
I want to be there for you.

Michael E. #608150

Hmmmm ... maybe I should have titled this first post:  New Beginnings ...
Anyway, welcome to the Prison Ministry blog.  And thanks for visiting.