"Whao... It's just like the movies!" These were the words of one the brothers who accompanied me totheCheshire Correctional Institution on May 16.
It is a level four, high security facility that houses adult offenders who are serving long sentences. The facility is home to over 1,300 inmates, and operates multiple units within the facility including the general population of inmates, a protective custody unit, and special management unit. This facility also incarcerates a small number of pre-trial inmates, currently around sixty men.
I didn't know what to think when asked to go to a "Prison Mission." I thought I would be going for catechesis or even just visiting the inmates. Upon our arrival, Fr. Robert Villa, one of the chaplains of the facility, greeted the four of us and guided us through the process of what was to come.I soon learned that we were there to participate in Mass for approximately nine men who were receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Communion and Confirmation for the first time. We were there as a sign of support for these men who, probably feel abandoned by the rest of the world. Before going anywhere within the walls of the prison, we had to get through security, which was a long twenty-minute process in itself.
Once through all the gates and metal detectors, we were escorted into a large simple auditorium with white painted walls and steel benches. There was nothing else in the room besides what had been prepared for the Liturgy (altar, ambo, baptismal font etc.). I was a little curious as to how everything would go... The typicalstereotypesran through my mind. For a few seconds I had the assumption they were all untrustworthy brutes with violent tendencies.
Before I knew it, several prisoners walked freely into the auditorium as if they were getting ready to watch a show. Awkwardly enough, I wasn't nervous. Many of them suddenly began to introduce themselves to us and began thanking us for coming. I noticed respect and politeness among them. They were verycourteous and interested about our lives as religious.
I realized this was a different type of group. Unquestionably these inmates were the "cream of the crop", if you will, of the prison. Truly good-hearted men.
One ofinmates,Sal, jumped right into a question before introducing himself asking:"So what do you think about receiving the Eucharist on your tongue or in your hand?"
I was taken back by the question at first, principally because I was shocked at his interest. Shortly after, Sal and several others continued asking us morequestionsabout the Catholic faith. For some reason the idea of a Christian, or even Catholic community in jail had slipped my mind.
Mass began with Fr. Villa ready to welcome nine men into the Catholic Church. Throughout the duration of Mass, I was amazed. I could notbelieveI was sitting next to prisoners, one to my right, one to my left and morein frontand behind me.
The thought soon came to me: "Who am I...? I am no different than they. If there were a jail for the way I treat God, surely I would be there too. But I am no different. God loves them just as much as he loves me. So much so, that he allows each of us to come back to him through the sacrament of Confession – regardless of our faults!"
Imaynot have committed a crime against the law, but I know very well I have offended God time and time again. That stain on my soul is just as bad, if not worse! I am not in jail, but when I am in sin,it is like living in an invisible cell preventing me from living in the life of grace God wants for me.
My visit to the Cheshire Correctional Institution was eye opening. Amongst all the evil in the world and in what seems to be such dark places, God is still at work.I invite you to continue to pray for the conversion of sinners and for the nine men who are beginning their journey of faith.