NURTURING KINDNESS, CHARITY AND GRACE

The First Prison Ministry Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Family in Kajang, on Saturday, 17 April 2024 at 11am. This Mass was especially for all Prison Ministry volunteers in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. The Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM) was excited to get together and celebrate their First Eucharistic celebration on a truly meaningful Prison Ministry Day. It marks a new chapter in their mission.

In June 2024, the ACPM wrote a letter to Archbishop Julian Leow requesting that 14 August be designated as Prison Ministry Day in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. With His Grace’s kind approval, we were able to proceed accordingly. On Wednesday, 14 August 2024 the Universal Church commemorated the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and in conjunction with this, the ACPM kindly requested that all priests in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur offer particular intentions for the prisoners, their families and all the dedicated volunteers during the Eucharistic celebrations, hoping to uplift their spirits and support their meaningful work.

The ACPM, founded in 1985 by Sister Catherine O’Sullivan IJ, began with a heartfelt mission to help incarcerated individuals regain their self-respect and dignity. This ministry supports them in becoming valuable members of society after their release. It also hopes that through their efforts, these individuals would be able to live fulfilling lives, and be warmly welcomed into society once again.

Each time when priests and volunteers visit correctional centres, they learn to understand the challenging experiences of the incarcerated people. We desire to treat each one of them with love, compassion and respect. Through faith-sharing, they are guided closer to God and made aware of his divine presence and love. Their troubled hearts are comforted by fostering trust in God.

Through the kindness of the Mother Superior of the Infant Jesus of Malaysia, Theresa Chua, I am in contact with Sr Catherine O’Sullivan IJ via email. Two weeks ago, she sent an email introducing her wonderful self, and she also shared her personal experience teaching in Seremban IJ Convent in the 1970s. After much discernment, she felt inspired to venture into the prison ministry in 1980, until she returned to Ireland in 1986.

She shared her heartfelt experiences with a Methodist Church minister - travelling to prisons, visiting our brothers and sisters and guiding them towards a brighter future. Over six years, they visited eleven prisons throughout Peninsular Malaysia, carrying the spirit of the Gospel’s message, “I was in Prison, and you visited me” (Matt 25:35f), offering comfort and healing both inside the prison walls and beyond. Their mission resonated with the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “I, the Lord, have called you and shaped you to bring out prisoners from confinement and those who live in darkness from the dungeons” (42:7), to liberate captives from prisons.

One of her earnest wishes is for all individuals involved in this Prison Ministry to persistently strive and support those who feel most neglected in our society. Let’s nurture kindness, charity and grace, so they can find meaning in life through our dedicated involvement in the prison ministry.