Today my bishop came to St. Clairsville to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation at the state prison that my pastor and I visit every Tuesday.
The guys at the prison have been excited for weeks as we've held "Confirmation classes," and I have to say that I've been excited too: I have been looking forward to them encountering their bishop.
I was not disappointed. There was a real joy in the room as we celebrated Mass. They sang and prayed with enthusiasm. They responded from their hearts.
It gave me a real sense of the beauty that can exist even in the roughest places of the world. These men are in a difficult situation, but God is still there with them. They can live their faith even if they are not what we would consider "free."
Prison ministry has, surprisingly, become one of my favorite parts of being a priest so far. It's humbling to encounter people striving for holiness anywhere, but, in a place like that, their example shines out even brighter.
2 comments:
That is so awesome. Being fully involved in the Confirmation process right now at our parish and writing about my own confirmation recently on my blog, THIS is the bomb! LOL This is the way our Christian faith should be lived out. Kudos to you and Bishop. Congratulations to those receiving the awesome sacrament of Confirmation.
Father Michael, you and Father Tom are truly the hands and eyes and ears of Christ. You are doing exactly what Christ instructed you to do. God bless you and God bless those men who have found faith in such a place.
Nan
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