By Levi Baus
“I was in prison and you came to me.” - Matthew 25:36
There was a beautiful tension between the bitter cold afternoon of Dec. 14 and the warmth of singing and piano music inside the Nebraska State Penitentiary Religious Center. Bishop James Conley celebrated Mass on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, which was also the occasion for the worldwide celebration of the Jubilee of Prisoners. While there was no heat in the building, everyone at Mass came together around the brilliant light of our Lord’s joy and mercy.
Many thoughts were in my mind and heart as I listened to Bishop Conley’s heartfelt homily, the uplifting piano music of one of the incarcerated men, and the sincere, vulnerable witness that Bishop Conley gave to the men after Mass.
As I have spent more and more time visiting prison facilities, I realize how moving it is to receive a smile, a small gesture of appreciation, a kind word, or even a simple handshake of recognition. These small moments of goodness given to me “on the outside” have gone largely unnoticed by me over the years. Yes, this has been my own lack of seeing clearly, but there has also been a critical lack of seeing myself as a good, loved, and cherished Son of God.
Going into the prisons has been working on me over the last year, and I have spent so much time encouraging, commending, and loving those who are forgotten, lonely, and easy to condemn and relegate to their cells for the rest of their lives for what has been done. While I have been speaking words of mercy, joy, peace, and encouragement to our brothers and sisters “on the inside,” the Lord has slowly cracked open the doors of my own heart to let me hear with renewed vigor the same words I have been trying to speak to the men and women, not only at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, but other facilities as well. This gift has nothing to do with me, but I’m so grateful to the Lord for offering me these opportunities to be loved by Him.
Even though it takes time and plenty of communication to visit one of the prison facilities, it really does not take much effort. Some patience and willingness to work with others is all you need to get inside. Sure, there were some things to work out to make the celebration smooth, but any effort was worth the encounter.
The men at the Nebraska State Penitentiary were so appreciative that Bishop Conley came to celebrate Mass. They were grateful for his time after Mass when he shared about his life, conversion, and life as a priest and bishop. They were also grateful that Father Christopher Eckrich spent time hearing confessions during the bishop’s discussion with them. Overall, the sincere and vulnerable encounter and coming together for Mass meant the world to these men. While the day was simple, the men will remember it for a lifetime.
If anyone would like to join the Church’s efforts to visit the imprisoned, and you have felt called to participate in the larger community of the Lincoln Diocese, I would be more than happy to discuss some options for the state prisons or point you in the right direction for your local county jail. So many of these men come from various parts of the state or the country, so our efforts focus on the larger Church community.
All our efforts at Catholic Social Services in our Prison and Reentry Apostolate are aimed at facilitating your encounter with someone inside one of the state facilities or walking alongside someone who is preparing to be or has been released from incarceration. Even if you find yourself wanting to participate in an indirect way, we have a list of names and other intentions for our incarcerated brothers and sisters. Reach out if you’d like to volunteer, accompany or visit someone, write letters, or become a prayer warrior. God bless you, and may the Lord encourage us to open the doors to any prisons we have made in our hearts so that His Light and Love may fill and heal us.
