By David Kilby|Correspondent

“Part of the mission of Christ is to reach out to those in need.”

With these words, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., highlighted the service of volunteers in the Diocese of Trenton’s prison ministry program.

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Bishop O’Connell spoke with some 40 such volunteers when he joined them in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, Dec. 7, for the Day of Spirituality for Jail and Prison Ministers. The day provided an opportunity for those involved in prison ministry to educate and support those just entering into the ministry.

Bishop O’Connell recalled that one of his apostolic works as a seminarian was to serve in prison ministry. “I learned a lot that I never knew. It was a good experience for me. What we do in this ministry is extend the mission of Christ. You are that Good News, that release. You bring them that sense of hope that somebody does care about them,” he said.

The bishop thanked the volunteers for choosing to live the Gospel in this way, saying, “When you bring the Gospel, you bring Christ. When you bring Christ, you bring the Church, and when you bring the Church you bring me.”

Vincentian Father Martin McGeough, diocesan coordinator of Jail and Prison Ministry and facilitator for the day, explained that he visits a number of prisons, including Alfred Wagner, Garden State, Jones Farm, Trenton State Prison, and Midstate, where he celebrates Mass and the sacraments, hosts Bible studies and, also, meets and speaks with the inmates.

“A lot of them want to go to Confession,” Father McGeough shared. “They have a sense of being sorry for what they’ve done.”

Laura Ford, an active member in the re-entry ministry program in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Philadelphia, joined Vincentian Father Tim Lyons of the same parish and ministry, sharing wisdom and stories of inmates they’ve met, people including those who were loving and virtuous but just got caught in bad situations. Each of their stories ended in hope, with the inmate getting out of prison and starting a new life. Many received jobs through re-entry programs hosted by local parishes.

Father Lyons expressed his enthusiasm for prison ministry, and reflected on how he sees the Holy Spirit at work within it.” When the Holy Spirit moves, we get everything we need,” Father Lyons said. “There’s a huge need for healing in our families, Church and community. The Holy Spirit has a mission and the mission has a Church.”

Dominican Sister Liz Gnam, chaplain in New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, who has been in prison ministry for 25 years, said, “Prison ministry is the ministry of presence,” adding that the prison minister is a “sacramental presence, the sign of hope, love and non-judgmental forgiveness.”

Other volunteers, including Jack Arimentha, St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, explained how they entered prison ministry after sensing that something was missing in their lives, and saw a ministry like this as a way to fill that void. “When you give to those less fortunate than you, you get 10 times more back,” Arimentha said.

“We are God’s hands and feet,” said Bobbie Ann Cox, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade. “What a beautiful way to serve our Lord, just letting people know that there are people on the outside who care to show that God loves them and always will. I thank God for teaching my heart to say yes.”

Father McGeough noted that the diocese is trying to get more volunteers in state prisons, a ministry, said Father Lyons, that requires a great deal of courage. “Jesus got right up to people,” he said. “He wasn’t afraid of people’s sins, diseases or that they were outcasts.”