In the prison, the clients are my sons…

What is it like to volunteer in the Church’s prison ministry?

Volunteer Victoria Russell-Inniss shares her experience.

One blessed Sunday morning in 2014, Hugo Forde, one of our parishioners at the Holy Trinity Parish at Arouca, invited me to the prison ministry. A year later, I had an interview with three of the senior members in the ministry.

My first visit to the Arouca prison was with Forde. We visited the Remand Section. An officer accompanied us to the building and as we approached, we heard songs of praise, and heavy drumming. As we entered the building, the music was louder. I was not scared but anxious and God-driven.

We walked toward the area where the Service was held, and were greeted by some of the clients while they did their daily chores. I was amazed, and at the same time elated by their participation in the church Service. My heart began ‘crying’. These clients were my sons, some needing love, spiritual direction and conversion.

The long table was nicely covered with a tablecloth. At the centre of the table was a vase with freshly picked flowers, either hibiscus or ixoras. I sat facing my sons and they sat on long benches facing me. I viewed each face. They were of varied ages.

I felt a genuine feeling of love for these young men. Despite their crimes, they are children of God

(1 Jn 3:1). God does not want just a portion of His people into His kingdom; He wants all of us. I am not to judge (Mt 7:1-2). I am to demonstrate love and compassion towards them, while they are mending their brokenness.

Our Father in Heaven has a designated role for each one of us. Where? On this Earth. In the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus read, “The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me. For he has anointed me” (Lk 4:18).

I am anointed to do His will. My salutation to the clients that morning was “Good morning my sons, brothers, nephews, uncles and friends.” I cried that morning while sharing on the gospel. My tears were tears of a mother crying out for change in the lives of these young men.

Throughout the years, I have seen God’s intervention in the lives of some of our clients.

My feelings while journeying throughout the years with them are indescribable. I am called to do God’s will ‘to proclaim liberty to the captives’. Why am I so devoted to prison? I can only say that I am God-driven. I have become a motherly figure among those in the Women, Remand and Golden Grove prisons. I rarely visit the Youth Transformation & Rehabilitation Centre (formerly called the Youth Training Centre). My prayers are with them—the youths.

I urge those who are interested in becoming part of the prison ministry, please come with a heart full of love. To lift up and not break down, to encourage and not discourage.

We must be able to see that God’s love restores lives into wholeness. Let us be Pilgrims of Hope with a vision to see that we are commissioned to do God’s will with joy in our hearts.

I pray Father God, to channel us into Your truth, into Your life and light. Beckon us to the spaces and places that You want us to tread. Open our hearts to do Your will joyfully. Please touch the ‘clients’, our sons and daughters, that they may seek Your face always. This I pray in Your holy and blessed name, amen.

If you’d like to be part of the Church’s prison ministry, please email prisonministry@catholictt.org