Lay Dominican Prison Ministry Initiative

The Lay Dominican Prison Ministry Initiative had a holy day today.  We gathered at the Connors Family Retreat Center (formerly St. Stephen's Priory) to have a day of retreat, sponsored by the Bethany House Ministries.  Members of three chapters of Lay Dominicans attended: Our Lady of Mercy Chapter, MCI Norfolk, Hope of Bethany Pro-Chapter, Norfok, MA, and the Community of the Resurrection Chapter from Casco, Maine, attended along with others who follow the spirituality of Father Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.

The theme was advertised as "Holding Up the Mirror God's Grace in Action."  What this meant was to really look at our perceptions in looking at people.

We began with Professor John McDargh, PHD talking about his father telling him to watch out for the men in prison because they were bad men.  John's dad perceived prisoners as bad men.  But when John went to the prison, he found out that they were just people.  In fact, they were good people who chose to do bad things.

The second speaker was Father Wayne Cavalier, O.P., who talked about Father Jean-Joseph Lastaste's perceptions, and how they were changed, when he met the women in Cadillac prison.

The final speaker was Kathleen Dennehy, the former commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.  She gave interesting insight on the "inside" perception of inmates.  We also brainstormed some ideas on how to support prisoners and their families.

The location was spectacular.  I know this property very well, as it once was a Dominican priory--the place where I entered the Order.  Most of my spiritual formation was held here.  So you better believe what celebrating the closing Mass meant to me.  At this time of the year, around 5 PM the setting sun is in the perfect position to shine its rays upon the raised consecrated Host.  Father Wayne raised the Host in the sunbeams, twice.  Once to show up the Body of Christ, and again to show us His Broken Body.

Awesome!

Auf Wiedersehen Au Revoir Vaarwel Good Bye

Sister Ruth had a cook out to say good-bye to 

   Sister Pia Elizabeth                   Father Wayne       Sister Sara

The friendship, the food, the Mass, and the fun abounded.  I shall never forget this day.  People brought their entire families.  There were even three dogs in attendance.

We started the festivities with Mass.  Father Wayne Cavalier, O.P. presided.  Fr. Wayne went around the room and had everyone introduce themselves and their connection to Bethany.  Many, many were "graduates" of Norfolk.  Not surprisingly, many said their lives were turned around by Sisters Ruth and Kathleen.  Some of their families were there.  Volunteers also attended.

Everyone brought food, so there was plenty. After everyone ate, we sat around and had fellowship.  This is how we spent the afternoon.  Old acquaintances were renewed and new acquaintances were made. We passed a few hours this way.  Gradually, people began to leave, at their leisure.  Everyone enjoyed themselves.  Father Wayne stayed the entire time, and even managed to bless a couple of motorcycles.

It wasn't sad to say good-bye.  We will always have the Bethany connection.  We will pray for each other and our hearts will communicate.  Love knows no boundaries.  Love conquers all.

Another Life Sentence

"Be praised my Lord that you have given here a renewed, rejuvenated form of your eternal mercy, that you have given to the world a new proof of the all powerfulness of your grace and infinite love."  fr. M. Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.

My Brothers, what do you seek?

Moved by God's mercy, we have come here to experience your way of life, following the example of St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena, Fr. Jean Joseph Lataste, and others who have gone before you, and who have illuminated the life of the Order and of the Church, first so that we may give witness to our faith, and effectively hear the needs of people of our time, and so that we may early serve the truth.  Therefore, carefully considering the particular goals of the apostolate of the Church today, we seek to be aided, moved and in a special way, to show forth true compassion toward all anxieties, to strive vigorously for freedom, and to promote justice and peace.


These are the words our "cloistered brothers" used when making their promises.

It wasn't the words that made Sister Ruth cry.  It wasn't the power of the consecration, that almost choked Fr. Wayne Cavalier, O.P., the Mass celebrant, up.  It wasn't the act of putting the scapular over the head of a candidate, that choked him up.  And it wasn't just emotion wrought by the charismatic music that tugged at everyone's heart.

It was the Holy Spirit touching us.

Whew!  He's powerful.  Our prayers to the Holy Spirit were answered when we invoked him to strengthen the bonds made in Baptism.  We were touched.

Today we witnessed the Reception and Perpetual Promises of our "cloistered brothers" into the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic.  A few months ago, Moses, one of my cloistered brothers said, "When I heard "for life!" my heart stopped.  I realized that this was another life sentence. Whoa!  Do I really want this?  I have to think about this--really think about this."

Today, we heard him proclaim in a loud voice his promises to Sister Ruth, and Father Wayne Cavalier, O.P. (in place of the Master of the Order).  Yes, today he was the one who freely, whole heartedly, chose another life sentence. 

Deo Gratias.