Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Off to prison for St. Aloysius parishioners
By Tim Johnson
YODER — Parishioners at St. Aloysius Church have found a ministry that easily takes them out of their comfort zone — a visit to prisons.
It all began the weekend of April 27 when Lemuel Vega came to the Sunday Masses to discuss his ministry, Christmas Behind Bars. That following Thursday, May 1, Vega would visit the New Castle correctional facility, and he invited people from St. Aloysius to join him.
Christmas Behind Bars takes gift packages of cookies, candy, etc., to those jailed in county jails, but also to the state and federal prisons. Although it began as a Christmas ministry, it is now one that operates year-round.
Nine parishioners from St. Aloysius took Vega’s words, perhaps were stirred by the Holy Spirit, and nervously ventured by van, three with another church in Decatur.
So far, Christmas Behind Bars has been comprised of members of many faiths, but this trip marked the first time that a Catholic group participated.
Two hours were spent passing through security and briefing with prison officials, which added a bit of even more nervousness of the members. The nine St. Aloysius parishioners were a part of 132 volunteers from all across Indiana who came to the New Castle correctional facility. This group was split into ministry groups of 11 who visited four pods, each pod containing 50 prisoners, 25 upstairs, 25 downstairs.
Many of the group members’ expectations of the prisoners was shattered.
“I wasn't quite sure what to expect,” Jay Girardot told Today’s Catholic. “I found that the prisoners were more polite than I anticipated, and they were very grateful for their gifts.”
“The respect and attention the inmates gave us during our visit was much different than I anticipated,” added Steve Miller.
Kathy Miller was struck about the prison setup. “I expected to see a dark, dismal facility with prisoners behind bars. The main facility and the cell block we visited were much nicer than expected and the inmates were not confined by bars or doorways.”
“I had low expectations, assuming the inmates would be rude and close minded regarding any Gospel message,” Michuda said. “To my surprise the opposite was true. The inmates were very appreciative, clearly eager to hear the Gospel, applauding each time after singing, sharing the Gospel message and closing with prayer. ”
Many of the St. Aloysius group had their own way to show their witness. Some of the St. Aloysius group passed out the gift bags.
Michuda found himself leading a prayer with his 11-member ministry group before taking the gifts to the prisoners.
“The group leader asked for a volunteer to share the Gospel or story with the first group of inmates we were about to visit,” Michuda said. “Nobody volunteered so I agreed to start. Not knowing what to expect, I asked him if we could pray together before entering. He quickly told our group, ‘Mark was going to lead us in prayer before entering.’ I know I needed it.”
The nervousness seemed to slip away quickly as the first gift bags were distributed. After the delivery of gift bags, the ministry group recollected, sang a few hymns, gave some witness talks.
In his witness talk, Michuda said, “I shared with them that we are faced with making a decision every day: Are we going to live today separated from God? Or are we going to live today for God? God loves all of us and wants to be a part of our lives daily. While in prison behind these bars you are being told who, when and where you can see visitors. With Jesus Christ, nobody can control your time with him but you.”
Meyer said, “I simply thanked the inmates for giving us a few minutes of their attention and explained to them that my being there was an answer to a prayer.”
She told Today’s Catholic that she had prayed for God to show her something with a church connection she could participate in, and, “when this opportunity presented itself, I knew God was speaking to me.”
Being a first visit, and really not knowing what to expect, many from St. Aloysius were silent witnesses. Steve Miller noted, “(The witness talk) was something I had not prepared to do, but probably got as much out of this as did the inmates. Some of the witness stories were very moving.”
The ministry members who had actually been incarcerated themselves in the past gave particularly stirring talks. It was through the power of Christ that they turned their lives around and they wanted to share that power through witness talks and some through song.
The St. Aloysius participants left the prison late that Thursday night, filled with hope and a renewed spirit to do more work.
“I would like to continue this ministry because it will also help me grow in my own spirituality as well as serve others,” Meyer said. “I would certainly recommend this program to others. I think everyone was feeling the presence of God that evening. And we are anxious to share it with others. The inmates are not the only benefactors of this program.”
Meyer added that the fellowship with the other volunteers and the inmates that day, “has helped me put my day-to-day concerns and responsibilities into perspective. It has also stirred in me a desire to study God's word myself.”
Of the experience, Miller added, “Something that the security director told us before the visit — ‘Treat the prisoners with empathy, not sympathy’ — such a simple statement that had much meaning. It gave me a much different outlook to put myself in their place rather than feel sorry for their plight.”
Girardot said, “I would share with people that this experience really does make a difference. There was man visiting at the prison who had just gotten out of another prison himself. He explained how he was visited when he was in prison, and it really did change his life.”
And Michuda said, “I went in the prison nervous and confused. I came out excited and clear of God working through us. To go again as a representative for God sharing the Gospel is a privilege. I plan to help any way I can.”
(For more information about Christmas Behind Bars, contact Lemuel Vega at 260-824-8642.)
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