Wednesday night back in Prison

I went back to prison again.  As pastoral care chaplain for Rayburn Correctional Center, a state prison in Angie, LA, I'm used to several visits there per month.  Since my surgery in early May, and the subsequent heart issues due to my mitral valve issues, I had not been at the prison in 7 weeks.  Fortunately, our ministry at Rayburn is a big team effort with support from two lay teams and a Catholic Priest who celebrates Mass twice monthly and graciously hears confessions.  There is never a week of the year that the men do not have an opportunity to gather in the chapel for either Mass or a Communion service.


My return found me conducting a Communion service supported by two lay volunteers from Assumption Parish in Bogalusa.  All three of us arrived as the heavens opened up with a pretty strong thunderstorm.  Despite the bad weather, which did delay the men from being called out from the dorms to the chapel. we did have 35 inmates gather for prayer and worship.  As I have described many times before, the nature of worship is very reverent in the prison; I always sense the men are so appreciative that, even in prison, they have an opportunity to worship.  Recently the men have formed a choir and the new inmate chaplain has been able to purchase some worship aides that adds some dignity to our worship.


For me, I was so glad to be back.  Presiding at the Communion Service I was able to preach on this Sunday's Gospel for the celebration of the Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul.  Yet for me and more importantly the men, the center of the celebration is always the Eucharist.  I was also able to confirm for the men the upcoming visit to Rayburn of the Archbishop in August!  For the second time since he became our local Ordinary, Archbishop Aymond will be visiting during a Saturday one day retreat.  The men are filled with anticipation at his visit!


As I left, having said my goodbyes, I drove the 40 miles home in a light soothing rain, incredibly happy to have returned to prison(how often would someone say that) and edified by the men's welcome and worship.  I thank God again for the gift of my prison ministry!