Yearning to be among my incarcerated brothers

What is it like to volunteer in the Church’s prison ministry? Russel Gonzales, a member of the Catholic Prison Ministry, shares his experience.

I started over eight years ago after Fr Robert Christo told me that he believed that I was suited for this type of Ministry and suggested that I should start at the Carrera Prison.

When inquiries were made, the prison authority stated that they were at that time halting giving any more passes for that institution. Not daunted by that fact, I was awarded a pass after all the required checks by the authorities to start the Ministry at the Golden Grove Prison, where I then met other very dedicated members. I truly admired them for their patience and dedication to show me the fine points.

When I first entered the institution, I got a ‘baptism of fire’ when I was sent to the Remand Yard, known as the ‘Hell Hole’, with all the inmates awaiting trial.

You first enter through no less than two gates. I told myself that there is no way that I could run out, even if I wished. I had never in my life been so confined that I actually prayed to God for guidance.

To be in the presence of so many inmates was indeed traumatic. But deep down within me, I felt a calling to be there. When our group held its regular meeting, the group members were anxious to hear from me about my thoughts of what I had experienced so far.

I believe that they were somewhat surprised to hear me say that I fell in love with the inmates, and I can state now that this statement came from deep within my heart.

Since that time, I served at both Remand Yard and Golden Grove, with a deep yearning every Sunday morning to leave my home in Maracas Valley to be among my brothers who are incarcerated.

I always let them know that I am no different from them in as much as I myself struggle with sin and who is only able to say: “There go I but for the grace of God”. I came to realise that these men are not really different (at least in seeing and interacting with them).

I truly want to hug each of them every time we enter into their presence, but we are restricted by the authorities for very obvious reasons.

In closing, I will state that it is only when we truly recognise the call of our Lord and Saviour Jesus to empty ourselves for Him to fully use us in His vineyard.

If we cannot be Christ in this world, then who will be His hands and feet? Jesus told us in no uncertain words: “When I was in prison, did you visit Me” and lastly: “For when you did it to the least of My brothers, you did it to Me”.

I will encourage all of us, especially in this Jubilee Year, to challenge ourselves to go beyond what we will like to achieve in going through all the church doors at the sacred sites, but to see our Lord calling us to know and recognise that there are other doors to be opened. I believe that God will indeed be pleased and bless our efforts.

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