Today I spent time in final preparation for the prison retreat coming up this weekend. As part of the Kairos team that will be ministering inside the Rayburn Correctional Center from Thursday afternoon thru Sunday afternoon I am ready to bring Christ to the men on the inside. And based on my ongoing prison ministry, I bet I will encounter Christ on the inside too.
Kairos is a non-denominational ecumenical prison ministry. As the Catholic pastoral care chaplain at Rayburn, I was thrilled to be invited to join the team. It has been a very spiritual experience for me to be in training with my Chirstian brothers and sisters. As a Catholic and as ordained clergy, I have been present to my non-Catholic firends just as they have been present to me.
Our team consists of many faith-filled Christians from many denominations; Baptists, Methodists, Evangelicals, other Catholics, Episcopalians and others. United in our faith in God and love of Christ, we work together to simply bring Jesus to the men and be present to them.
In the preparation for this ministry I have asked for and have received the support from many friends and parishioners. They have assisted me by committing to praying at specific times in the weekend ahead, baking cookies for the inmates and sending financial contributions. By contributing to this ministry you have united with me in visiting Christ in prison.
In this season of Lent, when we focus on reconciliation and rehabilitation, we can learn much from extending a hand to even those in prison. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he said I was in prison and you visited me.
Please pray for this ministry and for the Kairos weekend coming up.
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