T
THurifer2
Guest
Hello,
I am in to the full swing of doing prison ministry at a maximum security mens prison. I hold weekly communion services (the rite of Holy Communion outside of Mass) 2 times per month and a priest says mass 2 times per month on rotation of every other week with me. (the priest has a parish and drives quite a way to come to the prison. I have been asked to do this…if I declined the prisoners would go without.
anyway I have one bit of advice for anyone doing this ministry.
In todays day and age each state has their own Dept. of Corrections Database which provides the public with Offender information. One can look up an inmate and see what their crime was and sentence etc. etc. etc. I am quite ashamed that I did this but I was a bit curious. I looked up one of the “faithful” inmates “profile” and was quite taken back at his offense. I have also come to find that he is never going to get out of prison. My unfortunate choice of “nosing around” in his past has created some mixed thoughts for me and my encounters with him. It is obvious that he has repented of his (very horrible) crime however it is difficult at times to get that out of my mind.
My suggestion to anyone doing this ministry is to deal with the present and not delve into others past…I am ashamed of Poking around and I regret it.
I am in to the full swing of doing prison ministry at a maximum security mens prison. I hold weekly communion services (the rite of Holy Communion outside of Mass) 2 times per month and a priest says mass 2 times per month on rotation of every other week with me. (the priest has a parish and drives quite a way to come to the prison. I have been asked to do this…if I declined the prisoners would go without.
anyway I have one bit of advice for anyone doing this ministry.
In todays day and age each state has their own Dept. of Corrections Database which provides the public with Offender information. One can look up an inmate and see what their crime was and sentence etc. etc. etc. I am quite ashamed that I did this but I was a bit curious. I looked up one of the “faithful” inmates “profile” and was quite taken back at his offense. I have also come to find that he is never going to get out of prison. My unfortunate choice of “nosing around” in his past has created some mixed thoughts for me and my encounters with him. It is obvious that he has repented of his (very horrible) crime however it is difficult at times to get that out of my mind.
My suggestion to anyone doing this ministry is to deal with the present and not delve into others past…I am ashamed of Poking around and I regret it.