4/27/2011
Loaded down and carrying in the various items to the prison for the celebration, I could feel the anticipation building as I thought about the event today and I silently wondered about the outcome of MS’ clemency hearing. The Director of Catholic Detention Ministry and I cleared security and after a short wait, one of the guards escorted us to the visitation area rather than our normal classroom setting on the other side of the prison.
This area is nicer and resembles a park with large trees and covered picnic tables. MS met us and quickly dismissed the fact that her clemency was denied. For her it was God’s will and she had already moved on. She told us that the ladies receiving their sacraments today were nervous and excited in anticipation of the celebration. She sounded thrilled too.
Soon, Fr. Ron, along with twenty-three women, arrived. They signed in and made their way into the area as Christian songs were played on the karaoke machine that we setup for amplifying the sound. Carefully laid out on one of the two tables were the “battery operated” Easter candle, two baptism candles (also b.o. – no fire allowed), an extra-large broad rimmed bowl of water, the Chrism oils and the red and white scarfs for the participants. Special chairs were setup for TS, DB and RS with chairs behind for their sponsors. We were surprised when the deputy-warden showed to watch part of the ceremony. Her presence intensified the already heightened awareness.
The service began a little after 5 p.m. We started, as always “a cappella,” with an entrance song "Now We Remain." The sun was shining bright. The temperature was spring like – maybe even a little hot. The wind was blowing, swishing the tree gently and it provided a familiar reminder that the Holy Spirit can come like a strong wind on Pentecost. We prayed that the power of the Spirit would be strong on this holy ground too and it surely was.
I know that many of you would've loved to watch their faces and see their eyes as they received the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. The look expressed, as the water poured out, was excitement. Their faces happily reflected the laughter that spilled out of their mouths after the final anointing.
When the final song "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" was sung and the service concluded, it was evident that they did not want the day to end. We clustered together – not hugging – because it is not allowed, but wishing with all our might that we could express physically what was felt inside. Both the joy and elation were so strong that the corny phrase “leap for joy” came to mind and actually seemed appropriate. We could not keep still.
As they explored this experience with each other, RS noted that the holy oil gave off a perfumed scent. One of them asked Fr. Ron to tell them what the scent was. He said it was mainly balsam mixed into the oil and consecrated during Holy Week. Someone else commented that they hoped to remember that wonderful smell when they looked back on this day.
Smiles were stretched from ear to ear on everyone’s faces. The women kept trying to tell me what they felt and failed in words but expressed it very clearly in their eyes, faces and body language. We could tell that they were surrounded by the Holy Spirit and it was bursting out of them. It was an amazing transformation from the women they were 9 months ago. Today they stood tall. Today they looked happy. Today they were whole. It was a marvelous thing to see in this place surrounded by fences, barbed wire, guards and an atmosphere where the norm is pain, suffering, contempt, and condemnation. But in spite of it all, God dwells in this place and on that day they found a different kind of freedom from within.
As we left the prison and the automatic locking door closed, we heard them shout a final ….
THANK YOU!
