Thursday, February 23, 2012

Jesuits and Prison Ministry

Right after my ordination in April 2010, Fr. Jojo Magadia, our Provincial Superior assigned me to serve the people of the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa. I still vividly remember the mixed reaction of the congregation when they heard the announcement. Undoubtedly, the prison ministry has the reputation of being the toughest assignment that a baby priest could get. Stories about Jesuits’ horrifying experiences inside Bilibid abound. There were Jesuits who received death threats from the inmates they were serving. Others contracted tuberculosis or skin disease because of constant exposure to sick inmates. These and many other stories make people wonder why do the Jesuits still send their men to such institution.

Why would a Jesuit priest be sent out to serve people who have inflicted the society with violence, harm and pain? Would it not be for the greater glory of God if more Jesuits are sent to proclaim the Word to indigenous people or mentor future leaders of the nation? Why, after a long study of philosophy and theology, would the Jesuit waste their time in serving prisoners? These are just few of the questions people often ask when they meet Jesuits who work in prisons.

But Jesuits in prison ministry should not be very surprising. It is an apostolate that Jesuits chose to take as early as the beginning of their history. William O’Malley in The First Jesuits (1995) points out that visiting the prisoners constituted the “works of mercy” that had become “the pattern the Jesuits expected themselves and others to follow”, propelled by Ignatius’ “Contemplatio ad Amorem” (p. 165). Hence, together with “peace making”, visiting the hospitals, ministry to the dying and the prostitutes, the early Jesuits assigned “the same importance” to the work of taking care of prisoners (p. 173). Intrinsic in this ministry is the keen understanding that God desires to save and liberate individuals.

What kind of prison system that the early Jesuits find themselves into? O’Malley notes that in Rome alone, in the sixteenth century, majority of those who are detained are from the poorer classes. The system itself was ridden with delays, inefficiency and corruption that even with much attention from “religious activists like the Jesuits”, prison reform seemed difficult or impossible (p. 174).

Although separated by centuries, this was very much the same sad situation that Fr. Vic Labao found himself in when he began his prison work at the New Bilibid Prisons. The poor living condition of many inmates, inadequate food, medicines and facilities have turned the national penitentiary an institution that perpetuated further violence. Of course, such situation encouraged even more violence and criminality inside the prison which gave the institution the bad reputation as depicted in Philippine movies and television. Yet, Fr. Vic and the other Jesuits who were later on assigned with him carried on the ministry, as the first Jesuits did. Imbued with the spirit of the Exercises, they took the challenge of entering the lives of the inmates—not without trepidation— to find the incarnate Word “hiding his divinity” in them.

The initial involvement of Jesuits inside the national penitentiary were limited to what they could best offer – the Sacraments. They celebrated mass, preached the Word, heard confessions, anointed the sick inmates and eventually blessed those who have died. These were all very helpful in rekindling faith to the Risen Lord who breaks through their dark prison cells to set them free from fear, anger, despair. Somehow, helping these inmates get intouch again with their faith had already helped some of them to begin the process of rehabilitation. Somehow, helping them get in touch with who they really are in the sight of God had already helped many of them to walk in freedom.

Yet, active engagement in the lives of inmates made the Jesuits realize that rehabilitation entails not just rekindling faith and hope. Bringing them the Good News, that is Jesus Christ, somehow entails bringing them a palpable experience of Jesus’ ministry of forgiving sins and proclaiming God’s word but also Him healing the sick, feeding the hungry, setting the captives free. It entails, as John Paul II said, finding “new paths of redemption in every personal and social situation, even if the situation seems desperate” (Message for the Jubilee in Prisons, 2000). Propelled with the Ignatian contemplatio ad amorem, that “love ought to manifest itself more by deeds than by words” (SpEx #230), it became evident that it was rather important to work towards advocating prison reforms, alleviating the plight of the inmates, working and preparing them for future reintegration to society.

At present, the Jesuits with the help of many lay volunteers and benefactors, are sending children of inmates to school; providing medicines and food supplements to sick inmates; forming volunteers, inmates, prison employees; advocating prison reforms and continously bringing Jesus in Word and in Sacrament to the inmates and their families.

Then and now, the Jesuits’ reason for working for and with the prisoners is the same. It is to be a companion of Jesus who identifies himself with prisoners, who labors with them and who desires to bring salvation to everyone. The recent 35^th General Congregation aptly puts this reason as intrinsic in a Jesuit’s mission: “we enter with Christ who offers living water, into the dry and lifeless areas of the world.” “Our way of proceeding is to trace the footprints of God everywhere, knowing that the Spirit of Christ is at work in all places and situations and in all activities and mediations that seek to make him more present in the world” (GC 35, Decree 2, #8).

***

By the grace of God, I have already completed more than one year in the prison ministry and do not regret any single moment of serving and interacting with our incarcerated brethren and their families. It is true that I encountered many challenges in this ministry. Yet, I am deeply consoled and thankful because, at the end of day, I truly sense that God has indeed worked through me and through many generous people, who have shared their time and resources in this ministry.

My engagement in this ministry made me realize that, more than the horror of working with prisoners nor the many challenges of the ministry, what makes one fear and tremble is the humbling presence of the Lord in the hearts of many grateful and repentant inmates. It is in them that one hears the comforting words, “Be not afraid … It is I.” Truly, it is an honor and a privilege to be called to serve the poor, the lonely, the sick, the imprisoned …the very people whom the Lord identifies himself with.

Fr. Joseph Haw, S.J.

Comments

#1 MARILYN A LARIOSA 2012-01-03 04:46

A splendid experience of a truly follower of Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "I have come not for the healthy or righteous but for the sick or sinners".
May God strenthen more the Ministry in the years ahead. Happy Happy New Year!!!!
I wish to be a part of this Ministry as a lay person to share what I abundantly receive from God.

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