The Good News of the Prison Ministry at the Mountain Institution

Every Saturday Peter, my husband, and I went to Mountain Institution in Agassiz to help administer the prison ministry.  We joined the Archdiocese’s prison ministry in 2009 – on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Father Gordon Cook, the pastor of Hope, comes to the prison to celebrate Mass, hear confessions and meet with the fellows. He has been a true blessing to the ministry, making the Eucharist and the Gospel the centre of the inmates’ spiritual life. From a small group of inmates several years back, the ministry has grown and is now rewarded with a heartening harvest, particularly in the past few weeks.

One of the fellows has been in the prison for 27 years. He was Anglican but has been faithfully attending our Catholic Mass for over a decade. He just became Catholic a few weeks ago and we all shared tears of joy.  His conversion seems to have opened a flood gate as five other inmates subsequently approached Father Gordon, expressing their desire to become Catholic. Father gave them some basic catechism material and copies of the book YOUCAT for a mini RCIA. As Father was handing out the material, a little curious crowd gathered, asking if they could have copies as well.  Many of them are cradle-Catholics: they are now “coming home”, re-embracing their faith.

During the communion, I looked back down the centre aisle.  I saw a stream of inmates – over twenty people – approaching the altar for communion or a blessing.  It is no longer the five-person group a few years back, which included the choir members and the chapel clerk (all inmates).  Today, the Chapel is full! Praise the Lord.

The Mass touches the inmates.  The Word is proclaimed, the priest’s sermons explain their troubled lives and the Catholic faith, and the Eucharist brings Christ to their heart.  Their “tough-guy” faces have softened and their demeanors are relaxed.  They like to socialize and talk with each other in the chapel.  A good number of them join the after-Mass video presentations (on the Catholic faith), sharing their thoughts and the peace of Christ.  Attending Mass is not a perfunctory duty but an event they look forward to every week.

We have seen and encountered Christ in the prison.

By Peter and Mariam (Liem) Li