Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, also marked the Church’s worldwide Jubilee of Prisoners during the yearlong Jubilee of Hope instituted by Pope Francis. It was created to bring an awareness of correctional institutions, prisoners and all those who oversee or work in the penitentiary system.
By Dennis Kellogg
Director of Communications
The chorus of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You” rang out with voices, accompanied by a beautiful piano melody, rising to the high ceiling of an old auditorium. The voices belonged to about 80 incarcerated men serving sentences at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln who gathered at the religious center on the prison grounds Dec.14 for Mass celebrated by Bishop James Conley.
The Third Sunday of Advent also marked the Catholic Church’s worldwide Jubilee of Prisoners during the yearlong Jubilee of Hope instituted by Pope Francis. It was created to bring an awareness of correctional institutions, prisoners and all those who oversee or work in the penitentiary system.
“I’ve been looking forward to this Mass for a long time,” said Bishop Conley as he began his homily in the building built in 1931 that on this day was without heat, as the temperature outside lingered in the low 20s. Bishop Conley, though, focused on the joy associated with the day on the Advent calendar, Gaudete Sunday.
“We are joyful because the Lord is near. The Savior is about to be born,” he said.
The Church’s Jubilee Year also brings joy, the bishop said, because it is a year dedicated to hope and a reminder we are all pilgrims just passing through this life.
“St. Paul tells us ‘hope does not disappoint’ (Romans 5:5). We all have disappointments in our lives, but Jesus does not disappoint those who choose to follow Him.”
Bishop Conley also quoted from Pope Leo XIV’s homily earlier in the day during Mass in Rome marking the Jubilee of Prisoners.
“Let us not forget the weight of the past, the wounds to be healed in body and heart, the disappointments, the infinite patience that is needed with oneself and with others when embarking on paths of conversion, and the temptation to give up or to no longer forgive,” Pope Leo said. “The Lord, however, beyond all this, continues to repeat to us that only one thing is important: that no one be lost and that all be saved.”
Bishop Conley then told the incarcerated men, “The Church sees you, recognizes you and hears you. And knows your dignity before God. You can’t lose that dignity. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. We’re all sinners. We’re all fallen creatures. We go through this world wounded, seeking healing. Jesus came to make us whole again.”
Those scattered throughout the large auditorium – some sitting in groups, others alone – listened intently to the bishop’s words during his homily. During the Eucharistic Prayer, some kneeled on the cold concrete floor with their heads bowed. At the sign of peace, all got out of their seats and moved around the room, shaking hands and wishing peace to each of their fellow inmates and to Bishop Conley and Father Christopher Eckrich, who accompanied the bishop to the prison.
After the Mass, Linh Bao from Vietnam, a lifelong Catholic who has served 26 years of a life sentence, said he appreciated the bishop’s message.
“We need to have hope. Hope does not disappoint. Hope is important to us,” Bao said.
Inmate Paul Hester, a Louisiana native who grew up in Texas, played the piano for the Mass. He said life in prison is a struggle, and sharing his musical talents is a way he can give back.
“I love that (Bishop Conley) said to minister where you are,” Hester said. “We have ministry to do right here.”
Tristan Ferguson of Imperial, a 22-year-old who has been in prison for about a year and a half, recently converted to Catholicism while serving his sentence. He was encouraged by a fellow inmate to attend Mass, and then met with a Catholic priest who was able to help him learn more about the faith and answer his questions.
“One day, I broke down in tears during Mass,” Ferguson said. “It was so beautiful and peaceful. I’ve never had that before.”
Ferguson attends Bible studies in addition to Sunday Mass. He appreciated Bishop Conley celebrating Mass with those at the penitentiary.
“It gave me a love of faith, and hope,” he said. “It showed me I’m not alone. There are people that care.”
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Photos by Lauren Evans | Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
Ferguson was one of about two dozen inmates who stayed after Mass for an informal session with Bishop Conley. While Father Eckrich heard confessions from several of the men in another part of the auditorium, the other inmates sat in chairs around the bishop as he shared stories of his upbringing, his conversion to the Catholic faith, his mental health struggles and his work as bishop.
Bishop Conley was honest and open with the men about his own battle to overcome anxiety and depression.
“We’re all wounded. We’re all fighting this battle,” Bishop Conley said, with several of the men nodding their heads in agreement. “Don’t isolate yourself. No man is an island. Be with people.”
He also told them to be kind to everyone, for everybody is fighting his or her own battle.
The bishop shared laughs during the give-and-take, like when he told the men instead of trying to solve every problem himself, which brought on his anxiety, he now prays Pope St. John XXIII’s prayer each night: “Lord, it’s your Church. I’m going to bed.”
The inmates took turns asking Bishop Conley questions. Those included what he said to Pope Leo when he met him recently, how often he prays the rosary (he tries to do so daily), and what does a bishop do for fun (watches sports, goes to concerts or just “stays home and chills”). The bishop also told them about his hobbies of beekeeping and gardening.
Outside the state penitentiary after his two-hour visit, Bishop Conley said it’s important we also remember the pain and suffering the victims of crime have to endure.
“That pain is real and through no fault of their own. We live in an imperfect world. We need to pray for, acknowledge and remember those victims who have suffered greatly at the hands of others. May God bless them and their loved ones in a very special way.”
Bishop Conley said while keeping all crime victims in mind, he wanted to visit these men on the Jubilee of Prisoners to help them grow closer to Jesus Christ.
“I tried to bring some hope and joy to these incarcerated brothers that are here,” he said. “I was so impressed. Really devout men. A lot of hope, a lot of goodness here. So, we need to pray for them as this is the jubilee of the incarcerated.”
Bishop Conley said visiting those in prison is a corporal work of mercy and he encourages those called to that service to pursue it.
“Just to reach out to these men and women who have lost their freedom because of choices they made, but who are good people and they are made in the image and likeness of God like all of us so there’s a certain dignity about each one of them.”
He said he also hopes to be able to grow the diocese’s efforts to reach out to the incarcerated in the future.
“I’m hoping that we can expand prison ministry,” Bishop Conley said. “That’s what I want to do and I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and I’m so happy that Catholic Social Services has taken this on as their apostolate. They’ve got great leadership there with Levi Baus and Katie Patrick. We have a lot of prisons in our diocese.”
Bishop Conley added in addition to all the prisons and jails the diocese already serves, there will be another prison built in Lincoln, “so we have to prepare for that as well.”
For more information on prison ministry with Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, visit csshope.org/PARA or contact Levi Baus, prison and reentry apostolate director at 402.327.6245.
