When Pope John Paul II once visited the prisoners of a jail in Rome, one inmate approached him and with bowed head, confided his offence. He said, “Will I ever be forgiven by God?” Without saying any word, the Pope embraced him. That said it all. God never gives up on even the worst of sinners and criminals.
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Today is Prison Awareness Sunday. This annual event designated by the Church serves to focus our attention on convicts who are serving terms in jail, paying for their crimes. Likewise, we remember the wardens, prison guards and other jail management personnel in their difficult, lonely and sometimes dangerous work.
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In a Catholic school wherein a group of social concern students were discussing about what apostolate they would do, some included regular visitation of the local prisoners.

However, one of them vigorously objected, saying, “Why visit them? They deserve to be there, suffering for their crimes.”
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One of them replied, “We do not think that way. We live by a Christian attitude.”

And the Christian attitude is despite their crimes, they’re still children of God and Christians have the duty to reach out to them. This had always been the attitude and example of the Lord, “I have come for sinners, not the just. It’s the sick who need the physician.”
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This is clear too in Jesus’ parables of the Lost Son, Lost Coin, and Lost Sheep or His open acceptance of such sinners who were converted like Mary Magdalene, the tax collectors Matthew and Zacchaeus.
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In the parable of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25, 31 ff.), one of the works of mercy the Lord will ask as a requirement for entering His Kingdom, is how we reach out to prisoners. “When I was in prison, you visited me.”
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Reaching out to prisoners is not easy and I know this from several visits and Masses in prisons, but it’s very meritorious act, pleasing to God.

Because of that, my deep admiration goes out to those who make the sacrifice of working in this apostolate whether by choice or duty like the Legion of Mary, NGOs, catechists, chaplains, wardens and guards.
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OVERCROWDED JAILS. “Visiting” is not confined only to our presence but doing more for the prisoners’ welfare, like improving their living conditions.

Fr. Anthony Ranada, SVD, who is involved in prison ministry for many years, mainly as chaplain of Quezon City Jail, has been telling me that most of our jails in Metro Manila are cramped and congested, a problem which spawns riots, gang wars and epidemic diseases.
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For instance, Quezon City Jail can accommodate only 700 inmates but presently there are 3400! Due to the congestion, Fr. Ranada adds, four to five prisoners die every month.

And to think that those behind bars in provincial and city jails are still under litigation. Fr. Ranada reiterates his earnest appeal to Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte to do something about the overcrowded jail in Quezon City.
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. A priest who suffered an extremely strained relationship with his parishioners was finally appointed chaplain at the state prison.

Elated to be rid of him so easily, the people came in great numbers to hear his farewell discourse.
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The priest chose as his text: “I go and prepare a place for you . . . that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

Poor padre, he must have been treated so badly that he wished his parishioners to follow him not as co-chaplain but as inmates!
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MY BOOKS…Stories of Life and Laughter (3 Volumes) are available at National, St. Paul’s and Catholic bookstores.

Call Logos Publications (cf. tel. directory), Tayuman St., Sta. Cruz, Manila or e-mail: info@logospublications.com.

Part of the proceeds will go to the support of poor seminarians.