Masses in prisons to resume, RC prison ministry needs volunteers

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

For the first time in several years, a Mass will be celebrated at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) Tuesday, November 5 at 1 p.m., thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Catholic Prison Ministry.

Deacon Patrick Laurence, who has been working tirelessly to revive the ministry within the prison system, shared insights into the challenges and hopes for this important initiative.

“I have been having a lot of difficulty, and the ministry has not had any minister in the prisons for, I don’t know, five, six, seven, eight years. A long time. And we have had difficulty getting priests to come,” Rev Laurence told The Catholic News. He acknowledged the struggles in securing regular clergy involvement, but finally, “a couple of priests” have agreed to say Mass in the prisons.

Rev Laurence explained that while they had hoped for more flexibility from the prison administration, they were unable to secure additional time slots. Instead, Masses will be scheduled during existing ministry time slots. As a result, the plan is to notify the prison authorities 14 days in advance once a priest is available.

Tuesday’s Mass will be celebrated by Fr Kwesi Alleyne from the Parish of the Incarnation, Maloney, and the Jubilee Choir will participate, offering something truly special.

Rev Laurence shared that the choir has been teaching selected prisoners how to read and write music, and they will perform the hymns during the Mass. “The prisoners will probably form part of the choir,” he added, noting the significance of their involvement.

Rev Laurence emphasised the importance of re-establishing a consistent Catholic presence within the prison walls. “I would like to get the Catholic community involved, to let them know that here we are, reinstating this Mass as regularly as we can in all the prisons,” he said.

He stressed that the prison ministry needs more support, not just from priests and deacons, but from the Catholic community. “We need people to help us. If we don’t do that, this prison ministry is going to die.”

Despite the struggles, Rev Laurence remains committed to the ministry and hopes to inspire others to join him. He highlighted the profound impact the ministry has on both the prisoners and the ministers themselves.

“If you work in the prisons for any length of time, you come out of the prison a different person because you begin to understand what life is all about.”