New Life Springs From Barren Ground: A Prison Visit in Laredo, Texas

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Written by Kate Nava, Vice President, Dismas Ministry Board of Directors 

Kate Nava, Vice President, Dismas Ministry Board of Directors

I’m Mary Kate Nava, Dismas Board Member. I’m recently connected with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo, Texas, where Bishop James A. Tamayo’s team directed our collaboration with Deacon and Prison Minister Enrique Peñuñuri.

I accompanied Deacon Enrique who routinely delivers God’s Word in lecture and prayer sessions for incarcerated men and women across Laredo, the third largest city on the US-Mexico border.

Deacon Enrique and Kate Nava in front of La Salle Regional Center for Women

With appropriate clearances in place, we visited groups of inmates at La Salle County Regional Detention Center in Encinal, Texas, and the Webb County Detention Center in Laredo.

I reminded my unsettled self of Paul Claudel’s insight: “Lent is meant to be the springtime of our hearts. The season when snow melts, sap runs, and new life springs up from the barren ground.”

Our first stop was the La Salle Regional Center for women. After passing security, we were escorted to an empty multi-purpose room where a simple preparation took place. We arranged chairs in rows at the appropriate separation distances, and at the front of the room, a folding table with a white cloth and simple crucifix was centered. Women inmates of all ages were escorted into the now-less-stark, cinderblock room.  A deafening slam of the steel door locked us together with an astute guard and with God, which suddenly warmed the space with holiness.

Deacon Enrique opened with a blessing, and his words paralleled Psalm 19. He reminded the women that the Word of God is directed to each one of them as His daughters. Pointing at the cinderblock wall, he suggested each block is akin to life and the stages therein. One block is birth, then youth, perhaps marriage and the blessing of children, work or profession, friendships, family, and freedom. “And one block, is this place,” he suggested. “God has directed you to use this time you’ve been assigned to come closer to Him. Take and embrace without distraction the possibilities and realities of His goodness from this temporary time. Do this in lieu of counting the days. Participate in God’s way and receive His generous gifts and virtues.”

In closing, we prayed the words our Savior gave us: the Lord’s Prayer. My right hand automatically rose to hold that of my neighboring seatmate. The guard, following policy, shook her head toward me, indicating No.

Time was up; the women arose and seamlessly fell into queue. Many had a lovely glow, and others appeared calm or contrite. Clearly, “New life springs up from the barren ground.”

Webb County Detention Center in Laredo

Our second visit took a similar format with male inmates at the Webb County Detention Center in Laredo. (This unit is operated by CoreCivic, a processing center for Immigration ICE.) The men arrived with actual eagerness. Deacon Enrique urged the men to become followers of God during this time. He strongly discouraged “labeling” any fellow inmate as an enemy, and to erase and abandon the “eye for an eye…tooth for a tooth” approach. “If a fellow is angry or aggressive toward you or others, instead of watching TV, or napping, invest your time in taking interest in him.” He gave some examples, starting with “you seem very sad or mad. What’s going on? We have plenty of time to talk about what you’re feeling or going through.” Other approaches to the most aggressive can start with: “Matthew, how did you get to be so great at basketball? Draw out your brothers. Assure them that God knows each of them. Have no enemies nor fall to the level of labeling your brothers. In becoming amigos, in this scenario, one truly becomes a genuine Disciple of Christ.”

Once more, we wrapped up with a prayer and the prisoners in their bright orange uniforms fell into queue. This time I observed the majority had smiles and even a little more “spring” in their steps.

This Lenten Season, new life indeed is springing up from barren ground.

Kate Nava is a Dismas Ministry board member based near Dallas, Texas. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Oregon and a master’s in business administration from Notre Dame de Namur University in California. Kate’s career path included work in the airline industry and higher education. A devout Catholic, Kate lives her faith through loving service to family, friends, and neighbors in need in her community.

 

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Did you know…many saints have been imprisoned for their faith and beliefs?

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Did you know that numerous Catholic Saints were imprisoned at some point in their lives? Many were imprisoned for their faith and endured persecution, suffering, and death for their beliefs. During their imprisonment, they remained steadfast in their faith and love for God.

Father Maximilian Kolbe

In this blog post, we will look at some of the Catholic Saints who were in prison and how their lives can be an example that can inspire us during the season of Lent.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the most well-known Catholic Saints who was imprisoned for his faith. He was arrested by the Nazis during World War II and was eventually sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. There, he offered to take the place of another prisoner who was chosen to be executed. Maximilian Kolbe died in the gas chambers, but his selflessness and love for others continue to inspire people to this day. We can learn from his example of self-sacrifice and love for others, as he gave his life so that another might live.

St. Paul the Apostle

St. Paul the Apostle was also imprisoned for his faith multiple times throughout his life. Despite the persecution and suffering he endured, he remained steadfast in his faith and continued to preach the Gospel message to others. St. Paul’s example of perseverance and faith, as he endured imprisonment and persecution for the sake of the Gospel, teaches us about standing firm in our Christian faith during times of suffering and distress.

St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More was an English lawyer and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor under King Henry VIII. He was imprisoned and eventually executed for refusing to acknowledge the king’s supremacy over the Church.

Saint Edith Stein

St. Edith Stein was a German-Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a nun. She was arrested by the Nazis during World War II and was eventually sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she died in the gas chambers. St. Edith Stein showed great courage and faith, as she remained steadfast in her beliefs even in the face of great suffering and persecution.

St. Joseph Cafasso

St. Joseph Cafasso was an Italian priest who ministered to prisoners and those condemned to death. He spent much of his life working in prisons and was known for his compassion and dedication to the spiritual needs of prisoners. St. Joseph’s life is an excellent example of service and love for those who are marginalized or imprisoned.

Catholic Saints who were imprisoned for their faith endured great suffering and persecution, but they also remained steadfast in their faith and love for God. During the season of Lent, we can learn from their example of self-sacrifice, perseverance, courage, and love for others. May their lives inspire us to grow closer to God and to live our lives with greater love, compassion, and dedication to the Gospel message.

 

 

 

 

 

References for this article:

https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/21
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/06/23/st–joseph-cafasso–priest-of-turin-.html
https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19981011_edith_stein_en.html
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=370
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-thomas-more-499

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Volunteer and Team Spotlight: Stritch Students Making a Difference

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Our team consists of a variety of people who share their gifts and talents with Dismas Ministry. Key staff members, interns, and volunteers comprise our “mission family” at our operations located on the campus of Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We are pleased to introduce the Stritch students, and members our team, to you. Some of the students are preparing for graduation, and others are moving onto summer internship and work opportunities. Before they conclude their work with us, we asked them to reflect on and share a brief statement about their time with Dismas Ministry.

Thank you to all of the Stritch students for their contributions to our shared mission in support of prisoners and their loved ones.

 

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Introducing Camillia Washington, Dismas Ministry Ambassador

We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with many people across generations who want to serve the poor and marginalized in our society. As a small nonprofit, Dismas Ministry continues to build relationships with individuals and groups who align with our mission. And, we are blessed to work with students, staff and faculty on the campus of Cardinal Stritch University, where our offices are located. Here is an inspiring story of one student, and member of the Dismas Ministry team, who is making a difference both on campus and in her community.

Camillia Washington is preparing for the future through academic, campus experiences

Camillia Washington, Dismas Ministry Ambassador

Cardinal Stritch University junior Camillia Washington is the personification of an involved college student. She is president of the Black Student Union, is in her second year as a resident assistant, and makes a mean latte at The Bean, Stritch’s on-campus café.

She credits her mom, Latoyia Washington, for helping her build a strong foundation from which she can learn how to balance her academic responsibilities, many activities and stay organized.

“I am grateful for all of the opportunities at Stritch that have helped me grow,” Camillia reflected. “The Wisconsin Grant has helped me tremendously by supporting my efforts to pay for school. The grant reinforces the belief of all students’ ability to attend college.”

The Milwaukee native is majoring in communications: business-to-business and social media and minoring in criminology and police and justice systems. This interdisciplinary academic focus allows Camillia to customize her studies and prepare her to make a difference. She wants to travel the world to compare and contrast justice systems and identify solutions that will have a meaningful and lasting impact.

“As a person of color, I believe I have a responsibility to bring attention to problems in the systems, especially those that affect People of Color,” Camillia shared. “I want to use social media as a platform for change and improvement.”

She has found the perfect opportunity to explore her interests more deeply right on the Stritch campus, which serves as home to Dismas Ministry, an organization that provides prisoners across the United States with the free Catholic scripture, faith and prayer resources they need to restore their relationship with the Catholic church and with God.

Camillia recently completed her first semester as the Dismas Ministry Ambassador. In this role she is building community relationships and promoting the mission and values of the Ministry.

“Serving as an ambassador really opened my eyes to the faith-based perspective of restorative justice,” said Camillia. “I am able to show my authentic self and improve my interpersonal, writing and verbal skills.”

Camillia has a clear vision for her future after graduating from Stritch. She wants to establish a non-profit organization that will serve and support children of single mothers.

Camillia Washington, Dismas Ministry Ambassador

“Supporting the community within my community is very important to me,” Camillia said. “I want to provide resources for children and give them opportunities that they might not have otherwise so they ultimately have the ability to stand on their own.”

There is no doubt that Camillia Washington will continue to use her skills and passion to make a difference for people and organizations around her.

“I am not done yet,” declared Camillia. “I have so much more to learn.”

 

Original post written by Kathleen Hohl, University Communications, [email protected] found at Camillia Washington is preparing for the future through academic, campus experiences (stritch.edu)

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