I'm home tonight completely exhausted from my weekend in jail! From 2 p.m. on Thursday until 3:30 p.m. today, the 16th Kairos retreat was held inside Rayburn Correctional Center. Picked by the institution, 24 inmates were welcomed in by a Kairos team of over 20 volunteers made up of men, and women on the support staff, from many different faiths. Of particular interest to me was the number of Catholic volunteers that joined me on this team; 5. I can tell you that I have been the only Catholic on previous Kairos teams at Rayburn. I also, as a member of the clergy staff, was privileged to work with both a Methodist Pastor and an Episcopalian Deacon.
Kairos brings together clergy and lay volunteers in an ecumenical setting to minister over 4 days to inmates that appear to have no active Christian faith life. Through a series of many talks, prayers, songs and spiritual exercises the men are given numerous opportunities to examine and express changes and a stirrings of the possibility of a life lived for Christ. Many men, if not most, will feel moved by the Holy Spirit to publically declare an openness to changing their life and embracing God's mercy and love. The men further explore the sincere opportunity to forgive others; many times those who hurt them and those who played roles in their incarceration.
The men leave a Kairos 4 day weekend truly changed and on fire for Christ! They are encouraged to form community prayer & share groups and will be supported by future visits by Kairos volunteers.
From an abundance of home baked cookies, to financial contributions, to wonderful home cooked meals, to the love shown the men by letters and pictures, many drawn by CCD and Bible school children, these inmates truly get to feel and experience agape love.
It is so gratifying and spiritually fulfilling to serve on one of these teams. For me, the Kairos experience is just one of many tools in effective and faithful prison ministry. Soon, I return to my more traditional role as the pastoral care chaplain for the Catholic community inside Rayburn. And I will continue to support the Kairos ministry as we work together to bring inmates to Christ!
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