Going to Jail
This evening I am preparing a prayer service for the women’s pod at the Marin County Jail. I will be joined by another one of our sisters there, Sister Billie. I have included the readings for Sunday in the prayer; tomorrow we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. We will share our reflections with one another. We don’t have answers, but we listen. I think you could call listening preaching at times like this.
Baptism signifies a new beginning. Whenever we think of January and a New Year, we think of new beginnings. My experience of listening to the stories of the women in jail is that on the inside they are not so different from me. But for some different circumstances or different choices that were made by my parents or by me, they are there, and I am not. And that, like me, they long for new beginnings.
My hope is that our hour with them will give them some hope that there is the possibility of new beginnings. We will bring these women back with us in our hearts, and our sisters at home will pray for them too.
Great post. I totally agree that all of us, whether behind cell walls or outside in a park, are more similar to one another than we are different. And, being there for one another, while accepting each person as a human being created in God’s image, is essential to creating the healing environment that we all need as we together paddle the boat we call LIFE!
Blessings on your prayer service and your entire experience at the jail. And, thanks a ton for sharing this through your blog! I hope to hear how it goes through a follow-up posting!!!
I had the honor of working with Fr. Greg Boyle or ‘G’as they called him in Juvenile Detention Ministry in LA. I had never done this ministry before this time and wasn’t sure what it was all about. I soon ‘fell in love’with Saturdays. How, you might wonder? It was amazing to see, be a part of the change and walk with these young men in the camps along the journey. I was shocked to see 13yr olds in there for murder, but more shocked to hear their stories and hear that they were not too different from any of us; just took a wrong turn here or there, succumbed to peer pressure, or made a bad judgment call. My favorite was the mass we would celebrate. Most of these young men have never read the readings in silence let alone out loud! Their pronunciation reminded you of God’s sense of humor to it all. One thing we did was take them through a speedy version of baptism, Eucharist and confirmation classes. It was awesome to see the eagerness. Beautiful to witness the transformation. Many of them came out to follow Fr G and stay straight. They had their gang tattoo’s removed through the free programs, moved out of their bad neighborhoods and started fresh…in interviews you can still hear them come forward and say it was due to G and this program. I am very grateful to have been a part of it. If you are ever at Rel Ed Congress when he is there DO hear him speak, very inspiring!
Whenever we minister to the poor, we always receive more than we can ever give. This Sunday I learned about the value of work from one of the women. She is grateful that she is trusted enough to be a trustee – so she has a job – gets to clean up, sweep, etc. It’s given her a new perspective on work. She’s learned to be grateful for the very small pleasures of life, like a shower.
I know that our presence there is a comfort to the women. But they are very often inspiration to us.
Most definitely, as I reflected/reflect back to those conversations at many times in my life as inspiration and motivation…Thanks for sharing!