Celebrating Mass in Mandeville with inmates; God is good

I went to Mass today(between my liturgical assignments at Most Holy Trinity)at Mary Queen of Peace in Mandeville, La. This is a very active parish. MQP is located in a very affluent area of our New Orleans Northshore. Today their congregation was visited by inmates; convicted felons. These men are the praise and worship choir from the Rayburn State Prison, where I am privileged to serve as the Catholic Pastoral Chaplain. The visit was a wish; a desire of the pastor, Fr. Ronnie, who has heard the group twice while visiting and ministering at the prison.

The men of praise lifted their voices in song before Mass and provided a robust rendition of Amazing Grace. The mood was set as the Mass continued, including a brilliant homily on the Gospel of the Beatitudes from Matthew's 5th chapter. As gifts were prepared the men sang a beautiful song with the refrain God is good all the time; all the time God is good. It was so stirring as we moved into the liturgy of the eucharist. As they sang for communion they closed out with a beautiful rendition of Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place! For me, that is where the tears flowed.

As they stayed to sing one last song I was impressed as more than half the congregation stayed to listen to the singing which truly is inspired by the Holy Spirit. A reception after Mass allowed congregants to meet the men personally. What a scene seeing these Christians interact, even though some of them live in a state run prison.

One of the amazing men who volunteers at the prison in our Catholic ministry, Mike Holland, spoke to the congregation of the ministry that happens there. From humble beginnings and an invitation from a non-Catholic lay minister, Mike and his team have now been ministering at Rayburn for almost 6 years. I am so thankful for all of these volunteers and to be part of the team assigned at Rayburn.

I believe today that many Catholics from Mary Queen of Peace got to experience today what we, privileged to minister at Rayburn, experience every week. The presence of Jesus is alive in these men. They minister to Christ and the Church by sharing with us their gifts and their love of God.

I pray that we can get this awesome choir to visit many more Catholic Churches in the area!