“For I was in prison and you came to visit me”

“For I was in prison and you came to visit me“
by Cassey Fernandez

Of all the examples of charity that Jesus gives us in Matthew 25:40 this one seems to be the hardest. It is easier to be charitable to poor people whom we perceive as good but to do so for people who have sinned is another thing altogether.   

I first came to hear about the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry (RCPM) from a sharing done by Sister Gerard Fernandez. I remembered how she talked about walking alongside inmates on death row. She saw them as an equal, a child of God and she heard their cries for love. Her testimony touched me, but it also got me thinking, how is it possible to love someone who has done so much wrong? I am not God, so how do I open my heart to help someone rejected by society?

RCPM counsels and provides spiritual nourishment for Catholic inmates. The ministry provides a space for inmates to reflect when in prison and teaches them how to live better lives when they return to society. Through in-care sessions, counsellors conduct sessions for inmates. This two-hour session usually consists of communion service, scripture sharing, catechism and life experiences in the faith. If a priest is present, confession and Mass are celebrated as well.

Our own assistant parish priest Father JJ Fenelon is the Spiritual Director of RCPM. He shared with me that he too focused on inmates on death row. He spends his limited time breaking the word of God and teaching them the doctrines of the church. “Personally, for me, I had a thought.  Are we just preparing them for death?” said Fr JJ. But he realised that it is much more than that. He believes that the ministry is also preparing inmates to be at peace with themselves and society at large.

RCPM hopes that the inmates will experience some form of conversion so that they can contribute to society when they are released. Fr JJ noticed that because these individuals are isolated, they have time to read the Gospel and have spiritual growth.  Those who are sincere receive more than the ministry can give. One particular encounter with an inmate left Fr JJ in awe of God’s love.

He recalled a time he visited death row. During that visitation, an inmate shared that he felt very sorry for a fellow inmate who was about to be executed as he had a wife and child.  He himself was facing the same penalty and yet, instead of thinking of his own plight, he worried about his friend. He showed compassion and in the eyes of God, he loves his neighbour.

Serving in this ministry is no easy task. It takes a huge toll on one’s physical and mental wellbeing. The counsellors who walk beside inmates on death row spend time with them before their death. The hours leading up to their death are spent in prayer and the last rites are performed. Like Christ in his last few hours, Fr JJ sits with the inmates as they carry their crosses to Calvary. “God’s justice is different from human justice,” he said.

As Fr JJ began taking on new responsibilities, he knew he had to prioritise the ministries he served in. RCPM was the one ministry he did not want to give up. He felt the prompting of the spirit and God’s call to serve in this ministry. He added that when there is a true conversion, it reveals the face of Jesus in the inmates. Their desire and sincerity to change makes all the difference. He recalls inmates who were released taking up courses to better themselves, one even took up law in school. “You just feel so light after visiting the inmates” he shared.

Today, lay counsellors in RCPM continue bringing the word of God to inmates in prison. Some do keep in contact with the inmates after they have been released to help them readjust in society. They invite the ex-offenders for mass and remain a supportive friend. This ministry may not be for everyone, so, how then can we be the face of Jesus to our brothers and sisters who have been misguided? As Father JJ simply puts it, “Jesus befriends anyone and we are to do so as well”.

RCPM reminds me about the parable of the Prodigal son. Just like the younger son in the story, the prison inmates turned away from God and chose a different path from what our Father had laid out for them. It is only after hitting rock bottom that they experience a change of heart and look towards conversion. And just like how the father in the parable welcomed his son with open arms, we too are called to be welcoming and accept the individuals who are trying to reintegrate into society. Keep in mind that everyone seeks forgiveness and everyone is worthy of forgiveness in God’s eyes.