By Sr Lini Sheeja MSC –
Awake and Arise, Christ will Shine on You (Eph 5:14)
Prison Ministry India national team conducted an online retreat for 90 volunteers from 13-19 September 2020. The purpose of the retreat was the renewal of the PMI before we could renew our brethren behind the bars.
Every morning at 10.00 the retreat was started with the praise and worship followed by the Holy Eucharist with inspiring homilies preached by Fr Francis Kodiyan. The Holy Mass was followed by an hour of talk delivered by experienced resource persons.
Every evening at 17.30 with Rosary we began the retreat followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet, evening talk and Holy Hour. Fr Francis Kodiyan MCBS, the national coordinator in his inaugural address gave a brief introduction as how to derive optimum benefits from this online retreat and inspired the participants with 6 ‘I’s; introduction, invitation, introspection, investigation, insight and innovation. As Jesus was a man of prayer He invites the PMI volunteers to plunge in the deep spiritual life and this retreat is an opportunity to enter into the depth of our hearts to know the Master and to renew our PMI vocation.
The inaugural mass was celebrated by Most Rev Dr Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bengaluru. Archbishop imprinted the deep meaning and the value of carrying the cross for the sake of the lost ones behind the bars in the hearts of the retreatants by explaining it in depth.
Most Rev Dr Allwyn D’Silva, PMI Chairman delivered his talk on ‘God’s Love’. “One cannot understand God’s love unless one experiences it personally. Deepest need of human being is to be loved and the greatest liberation is to know and experience the divine love. The moment you are convinced of divine love we will be able to love the ones who are entrusted to us.
Fr Varghese Karippery, PMI cofounder gave an inspiring note on ‘Jesus’ love’ based on his personal encounter with Jesus. Jesus was with the people, the marginalized, the poor and the lost ones. Human methodology is 99 or 95, but the methodology of Jesus is one, the failed one, the lost one. Let our methodology be that of Jesus.
On 15 September 2020, the morning talk was delivered by Fr Wilfred Fernandes, PMI central regional coordinator. In today’s terminology, the Holy Spirit is like a GPS for us whose battery never goes down. He knows everything. He is the memory of God. ‘Being led’ means living according to Jesus’ teaching. Mar Tony Neelankavil, the auxiliary bishop of Trissur began his talk on the Holy Eucharist saying that prison ministry always confirmed his vocation. Whenever there was confusion in his mind he was strengthened and felt that the people are in need of him and service. Eucharist brings us close to God and to prisons. The mystery of death and passion in the Holy Eucharist is close to people’s suffering. Our God shares and takes part in our suffering.
On 16 September 2020, the morning talk on PMI virtues was delivered by Sr Inigo SSA, the former superior general and the PMI volunteer at Tihar Prison, Delhi. She challenged the retreatants as her every word was based on her experience with the brethren behind the bars. Jesus was a man of prayer. Prayer is reality; you will be pulled to suffering. We to be mystic if we want to be missionary and therefore prayer is most important aspect in Prison Ministry. Prison ministry is not a social work; it is a mission, an ethical and spiritual mission. Honorable Justice Kurian Joseph, former Supreme Court Judge spoke on Mother Mary. We celebrated the feast of seven sorrows of Mother Mary. But prisoners may have 70 sorrows. Prison Ministry is not a service. It is a ministry. The disciples of Jesus did not do service, they did ministry and it is to be continued. The first Christian is Mary and she is the tabernacle of Jesus. When he had many ups and downs in his profession, and the storm was rough, he had recourse to Mother Mary. Most significant virtues of Mother Mary are humility and holiness.
On 17 September 2020 Fr Alexander Kureekattil CMF moved the hearts of the retreatants as he poured his experiences with the released prisoners in rehabilitation centers. Quoting Mother Theresa ‘open your eyes in front of your home’, he challenged PMI volunteers to serve and care people around us. You need not travel far but look around in your area nearby for which your eyes need to be opened. “Unless you have communion with God, you cannot have union with the prisoners”. Fr Sebastian Vadakumpadan, PMI former national coordinator affirmed that prison ministry is a call within the call. He congratulated all dedicated PMI volunteers who allowed themselves to be restricted for a cause. First miracle of catching fish and last catching fish after the resurrection took place at this sea. There is a ‘smell of call’.
On 18 September 2020 Fr Sebastian Thekkanath, PMI former national coordinator delivered a speech on Sin and Repentance. We render our service to a group of people who are branded as sinners or about whom we think they have to repent on their sins, because they all are caught in some wrong actions and accused of such actions. People inside the prison are confined to the four walls of prison. They are branded people accused of some crime. General public look at them in a different way. They are wounded people, isolated people, psychologically down, depressed people with grudge, and nobody believes them. Fr John Ponnore from the diocese of Raipur spoke on the sacrament of reconciliation. Sin is poison. Poison spreads. In the prisons we are meeting people who have been wounded and hence vulnerable. If PMI volunteers are not transparent/pure as crystal, the sin in them can affect the prisoners. Hence the need for PMI volunteers to take confession more seriously and more often. Confession is a mirror through which we can see our inside, see the dirt inside us and when we accept them, the lord cleanses them through his blood. Feel sorry for your sins, cry out to him for forgiveness and healing.
On 19 September 2020, Most Rev Dr Allwyn D’Silva, PMI chairman enlightened the retreatants on ‘Renewed Life’. As you have listened to several talks during this retreat it’s time to examine ourselves as we are at the end of our retreat. Talks are like chewing gum. Chew them and examine yourself. Let us ask ourselves, what treasure do I carry from these past few days. The first treasure is the realization of what we are and what we have is a gift of God. Experience that we are God’s gifts. The moment we realize we are God’s gifts we learn that the others too are the gifts of God.
As concluding talk Sr Lini Sheeja MSC, former PMI national secretary invited the volunteers to be a blessing to the broken beings. She reminded the retreatants on begging style as she said, ‘feel blessed to beg’. Prison ministry is a continuous struggle for our brethren behind the bars and this struggle is expressed by our begging lifestyle. Why do we follow this lifestyle? The reason is very simple as it touches the hearts our inmates in the rehabilitation centers. We beg to make them kings and queens. Let our attitude be, they are the kings and queens and we are servants.
This last session of the retreat was the time for Inner Healing which was led by Rev Fr Jose Vettiyankal VC, the director of Logos Retreat Centre Bangalore. Father Jose prayerfully led all into this healing session with his talk on Inner Healing. Moses put a piece of wood in bitter water; it was changed into sweet water. Similarly, the power of the cross can change all our bitter memories and experiences into sweet ones. Imagine that white rays are radiating from the cross to your hearts, where all the bitterness is stored up. These powerful rays bring the inner healing that you need. Inner healing talk was followed by the Eucharistic adoration wherein Fr Jose invoked God’ blessings and protection over the retreatants. It was a moment of grace and heavenly experience as everyone were gazing at the Eucharistic Master pleading for His healing touch. The retreat was concluded with the blessing of the most Holy Eucharist.