Prison Ministry


It is a privilege to share my time at Old Colony Correction Center in Bridgewater, MA with Afro Americans, Latinos, Cape Verdeans and others inmates twice a month and perhaps more time next year.
God has a lot sense of humor. And believe or not He will invite us to be in places which we would not imagine and indeed this is my experience as a visit this prison and speak with inmates in the matters that they see are important and necessary for the rehabilitation/perhaps returning to community in the near future.
For many years now, I had he honor to be in touch with many young men in different prisons who writes to me and asking for spiritual and legal advise surrounding their problems. Indeed, I felt that God was calling me to a ministry that many of us today have no time to listen to those who incarcerated. But, I found it to be very up lifting and give me so much understanding of my vocation as a religious man seeking to accept everyday the invitation of God to be in the presence of my brothers and sisters.
Even though, I am only meeting with prisoners twice a month, but it seems that I am there with them ever day. I have learned so much from them that I say to myself only though life experiences that we become aware of who we are and where we want to go in life. I have met some intelligent and talented men in prison, great children of God from different faith, culture, ;language and race, but, at the end of my visit with them, they all are trying to create a community in the prison system where they can support and teach each other to be a good human being. That's a lesson for each one of us no matter where we are in our lives.
As I end my visit with them, my last words to them follows: : "Be there for each others and stay still until I return!"...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BISHOP TEIXEIRA Biography

Image
A Biography ofThe Most Reverend Filipe Teixeira, OFSJC The young men sitting around a table in the offices of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Uphams Corner are angry. The Feds are cracking down on suspected gang members in the neighborhood, and although they look like typical city kids in their jeans, jackets, and red Sox caps, they're far from it. Ranging in age from 12 to 32, all have been arrested at one time or another for crimes ranging from robbery to a stabbing. All are currently on probation. All were born on the island nation of Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa, which means the increased legal scrutiny could get them deported."Man, they're trying to smoke us," says Roberto, a 25-year-old just released from prison. "How they gonna help us by deportin' us?"Angel, a 32-year-old father of three who looks about 19, chimes in. "Same thing happened with the Irish, the Puerto Ricans, the Blacks, and now us." They may be aware that th
Read more
Image
Stop the attacks on Bishop T and his church, SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS!   Bishop Filipe Teixeira, OFSJC has been on the front lines of battles for justice in Brockton, Boston, and throughout the region and the country. He has marched shoulder to shoulder with people’s movements fighting against racism, police brutality, sexism, anti-Muslim and anti LGBTQ bigotry. He has fought tirelessly for the rights of Immigrants, workers and unions, people with disabilities, for fully funded public education. He has been a stanch defender of the Black and Brown communities. His militant outspoken advocacy has earned him the hatred of oppressors and exploiters from Brockton to Boston to Washington DC. Bishop T, and his congregation need our solidarity in action NOW!  Statement of Bishop T; “On April 19, 2017, after a nearly decade long legal battle,  Brockton Housing court ORDERED the demolition of our religious sanctuary within sixty days for the false politic
Read more
Image
 Visita Pastoral do Senhor Bispo Teixeira, OFSJC a Vigararia de Cristo Resgatador de Cabinda-Angola 2018 Ficou registado no livro da história da Igreja Católica das Américas em Cabinda-Angola a visita humilde e simples do seu irmão menor na fé o Bispo D. Teixeira, OFSJC Foi um acontecimento que ainda hoje parece ser um sonho não acabado quando o Senhor Bispo chegou ao airoporto Internacional de Luanda. Ai estava o jovem Maiado a espera do Senhor Bispo que o acompanharia para o próximo voo as terras Ibindas. Chegando ao airoporto de Cabinda lá estava o nosso grande homem de Deuso Senhor Padre Jorge Casimiro Congo, Vigario Regional para Africa e toda a multidão das nossas comunidades de Cabinda. Foi uma longa e grande procisão com o povo de Deus até uma das nossas Igrejas na cidade de Cabinda. O entusiasmo do nosso povo era visivel e contagiosa. As minhas lagrimas nãom paravam de ver o amor e o carinho deste povo tão humilde e simples para com o seu Pastor que há muitos anos o esperavam.
Read more