Wednesday night and that means Deacon Mike is headed north, some 45 miles or so to the state correctional facility in Angie, LA. I have written many times about these visits and the amazing things that always seem to occur after an evening with the men, practicing their faith and seeking the Lord.
Tonight was another of those special nights. After many months of preparation and prayer, we finally were able to baptise one of our men and confirm three. Our new Catholic also received Holy Communion for the 1st time. It was an amazing evening. Our most frequent visiting Priest, Fr. Peter, offered Mass and preached about the Sacraments and focused on this Sunday's readings from Paul's letter to the Galatians (5:13-18) and Luke's Gospel (9:51-62). At one point he reminded the men gathered that they, in their present situation, may actually have an advantage over all of us living in the "free" world because of their detachment from so many worldly goods. Interesting point. These men may have lost the battle; due to their crime and sinful behavior; but maybe they can repent and focus, even while on the inside, to win the war!
Our newly baptized joined two of his brothers in the Sacrament of Confirmation. They took the names Luke, Michael and Francis Xavier (the name sake for Francis Xavier Seelos) for their confirmation names. You could sense in a real and tangible way the presence of the Holy Spirit tonight. Even our non-Catholic brothers in adjoining rooms seemed to be worshiping more ferverntly in the Spirit.
And tonight, one of the inmates who was raised in the Jewish faith tradition approached us about accepting Jesus and wanting to pursue the Catholic faith!
Never disappointed when I leave Rayburn.
This ministry has been a blessing to me in more ways than I can ever express!
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