A new century. A new millennium. A semiquincentennial for a nation. A wedding anniversary. A high school reunion. One of those pesky birthdays that ends in a zero or a five. They give us cause to think about time. About how long we’ve done things. And they often create a sense of surprise. How can I be that old? Where did the years go? It seemed like yesterday that…

Recently, I had one of those moments when someone asked about prison ministry. When I did the math, I was surprised to realize that I’ve been celebrating Mass at the women’s prison in Muncy for just over 25 years. That’s longer than I’ve done anything. Longer than I’ve lived in any one place. Longer than I’ve been in school. Longer than I’ve worked any other job. But I hold these years in great gratitude. Prison has been a gift. Hard work sometimes? Yes, it’s never easy to meet people in their pain and struggle. But I get to see miracles: hope restored, sin forgiven, life renewed. To participate in those moments in a woman’s life is grace beyond all telling.

For many of you, prison ministry appears as an additional Mass on the schedule (that Sunday night Mass that you can’t attend). It’s sometimes a reason why Fr Dias or I can’t be at a Sunday evening parish event—or why we need to quietly leave early. On the positive side, the parish receives payment for the services rendered.

But prison ministry is more than those details. Prison ministry is how you respond to Jesus’ words, “I was in prison, and you visited me.” When you don’t have a priest on a Sunday night, you’re helping to bring the Eucharist to women who hunger for God’s mercy. When you don’t have that extra Mass at the time you want it, you’re giving us the time to be present to those believers on a Christmas Day or an Easter evening. When you prayerfully support prison ministry, we’re giving our sisters in Christ the same gifts we take for granted—the waters of Baptism, the words of absolution, the song of a choir, the sign of peace, the prayers for the dying. Thank you for that gift. Know that a thriving Catholic community at SCI Muncy will be eternally grateful to you for what you have given them.