Another victim of Isaac; the men of the Catholic Community at Rayburn Prison

There have been many victims of this disastrous Hurricane Isaac.  Despite being a Category 1 storm he has left many victims in his wake.  With great sadness we have watched dozens, then hundreds, take on water and lose possesions while having to be evacuated.  Even today, almost 48 hours after Isaac struck, even more folks had to endure grief and anxiety; first in Slidell then along the Tangipahoa River.  And as we speak, still about 700,000 are without power and hundreds are awaiting flood waters to recede in order to return home.

One other group of men are victims too, in a much more different way.  The state prison in Angie, La is where the Catholic Community of offenders gathers on Wednesday evenings for Mass or communion services and some fellowship as well as some RCIA instruction.  I am happy to be their pastoral care chaplain and enjoy my visits very much.  In fact, I was with them just last Wednesday.  They truly enjoy Wednesday night; afterall, it is their Sunday.  During what they title "call out"they are allowed to leave their respective cells/dorms and come to the beautiful chapel for some good Catholic praying, the Eucharist and fellowship. 

On the Wednesday night of this week, as an abundance of caution, all "call outs"have been cancelled as they have been in the days leading up to the arrival of Isaac.  Even though I can't call them or communicate with them from the outside world, I know for sure how disappointed they are at having no opportunity thus week for prayer and Eucharist.  The storm found a way to make them a victim too.  There is, of course, some irony here as these men find themselves in Rayburn because someone once was their victim; a victim of a crime.  But unlike many who choose to do nothing productive during incarceration, these men have turned to a life of faith and the truths taught to them by the Catholic Church.  They have a choice and they choose to worship and work on improving themselves for that day when thier debt to society is paid.

I tell those who just don't get prison ministry that one day these men are released.  And when released, those who participate in ministries at the institution are much more likely to not return to a life of crime and untilmately back to jail.

So on this Thursday, having endured the hardships of Isaac, I say some prayers for all the victims of this difficult storm and pray for the men of the Catholic Community at Rayburn who now wait a week for the Eucharist and the Word.