March 2019

    Jackie Appleton and I attended the Dixon Correctional Institute (DCI) # 9 Kairos retreat 2 hour closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, November 4, 2018.  DCI is a medium security prison about a 2-hour drive from Metairie.  This was a 3-day Kairos-Inside retreat for 42 inmates attending their first retreat from Thursday through Sunday.

     Most of these were some very tough dudes, in every way you can imagine. Ironically Kairos tries to select the negative leaders within the unit to go on retreat.  The negative leaders have more credibility going back in to build church inside.  Almost all the 42 inmates got up to deliver a 2-minute witness on what the retreat meant to them.  I was pleasantly surprised how reasonably articulate most were.  Obviously, street-smart communication skills are necessary for survival, but apparently Toastmasters inside also provides a valuable life skill for many.  But it was truly moving the number of inmates who got choked up talking about their retreat experience with their brothers.  Crying is not something you do inside, or maybe ever.  It was the most dramatically visible experience I have ever witnessed to someone experiencing the love of Jesus.  A simple example:  one inmate said he was so touched – he watched a facilitator peeling an orange.  When the facilitator finished peeling, he offered a piece to the inmate.  The inmate said, “ A man has never done something like that for me.”   Several inmates recounted being raised by grandmothers and aunts.  A loving male figure was entirely absent in their lives.

     Several inmates said how moved they were to receive the notes of prayer and encouragement inside their goody bag.  Many of these were collected by principal Ryan Gallagher from a new prison ministry group he formed at Brother Martin High School.  One inmate was particularly choked up by randomly getting a note from someone named Lionel (only first names were used on the notes).  Coincidentally, Lionel is the name of the inmate’s brother and is # 2 on his “ask for forgiveness” list.  Ours is the God of surprises, and no coincidences.
 
     Many inmates were moved by the prayer chain made of links of paper that stretched around this large room.  Each link was signed by a different pray-er in organized 30-minute segments.  SCS did not have time to get anything like this organized.  Going in, I personally would not have placed much significance on this chain.  Seeing the response, it clearly touched many of them in a unique way.  They spent time before and after their retreat activities reading the links.  In a prosperous free community like St. Catherine, we can take for granted how such little acts of kindness can be so uniquely powerful and inspiring in the life of many incarcerated.

     “ Be the change you want to see” was repeated by several men.  Clearly it is one thing to be euphoric after a 3-day retreat in a set-aside prison meeting room.  It is quite another thing to bring that sacred presence back into the grim realities of the prison unit.  Kairos has a Kairos-Inside of past retreat attendees who are a visible, active support to these new retreatants.  Volunteer external facilitators also make frequent follow-up visits to DCI.  But the results over time seem to speak loudly:  the wardens are very receptive of Kairos’ ministries because of improved prison behaviors.
Additionally, there are dramatic reductions in recidivism among inmates who have experienced a Kairos retreat (see the reference link below).  Two Catholic Kairos-inside inmates told me that for Kairos DCI, the recidivism for retreatants is zero (of course not counting 4 men who, after release, voluntarily return to DCI to serve as Kairos-outside facilitators.)

     Kairos emerged from the Cursillo movement in the Catholic church.  It is non-denominational Christian, with about half the DCI #9 outside supporters being Catholic and half Methodist.   “Kairos is ecumenical Christian.  We bring together what we have in common and leave our differences at the foot of the cross.”  The St. Catherine of Siena parish community supported this most recent Kairos retreat at DCI in several ways:

• SCS parishioners baked 68 dozen cookies.  The outside food is a huge prize for the inmates.  One inmate jokingly said, “Kairos don’t play fair.  They get us here with the food, then they get Jesus in our heart!”
• $550 to support 2 inmates' retreat expenses.  The goal is to have 1 lay facilitator per inmate, though that is not usually possible due to a shortage of volunteers.  The money pays for lodging for facilitators and a kitchen team (opportunities for SCS men or women volunteers), and all meals for the inmates.  

     
      The next DCI # 10 Kairos Retreat is April 28, 2019.  SCS is using this greater lead time to provide even more support, and we solicit your participation in Christ’s call to visit.  Fellow SCS parishioner, Ted Stacey, is currently attending multi-day training to be a facilitator for the # 10 retreat.  But in addition to the possibility of direct volunteer involvement with Kairos and the retreat, you can be a part of Christ’s healing through your prayer, baking cookies, writing short anonymous letters, financial contributions, etc.  Some may wish to consider visiting the Sunday closing ceremony as Jackie and I did.  It is a powerful and insightful experience.

Additional Reference:  https://www.catholicextension.org/stories/god-breaks-through-walls
 
What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.  You have loosed my bonds.   I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.   I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.                  Psalm 116
Want to support the next retreat from right here in the parish?   Contact Jackie Appleton - [email protected]  (504) 858-5192
Want to join the Prison Ministry team at SCS?  Contact Mark Truxillo - [email protected]  (504) 510-4563