Archbishop reminds inmates there is hope behind bars

In a Mass held at the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) shortly before Christmas, the inmates received a boost of hope from Palo Archbishop Jose Palma who reminded the inmates that despite their very sad condition, there still is hope, and that God is very loving and merciful.

“Do not despair, for there is hope in the Lord. This is the message of Christmas!” declared the archbishop.

Such was the reason he sent his only divine son Jesus Christ to the world, to save us from death, he added.

He said that one may not at once understand God’s plan for our lives but there is an assurance that if we follow it, it will always be for our own good.

Palma presided the Eucharistic celebration in a makeshift tent inside the Maximum Security grounds last December 23, 2008. Fr. Abraham Palaña, parish priest of Abuyog and Fr. John Paul Pedrera concelebrated in the Mass.

The newly organized Inmates’ Choir and Servant Leaders, composed entirely of inmates sang and prepared the venue for the Eucharist.

Modest gift packs were distributed to the inmates at the end of the Mass.

The Volunteers In Prison Service (VIPS) unit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (CBCP-ECPPC) in the Archdiocese of Palo organized the affair in coordination with the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) management.

Prison volunteers have been frequently visiting the LRP since 1999 but it was only in 2008 that the VIPS apostolate in the LRP had become a regular ministry.

The LRP Personnel led by Jail Superintendent Richard W. Schwarzkopf, Jr. participated in the Mass.

Supt. Schwarzkopf welcomed Palma and hosted a sumptuous brunch and informal meeting with him after the celebration. They discussed the possibility of having a chaplain assigned to LRP.

Due to scarcity of available priests in the archdiocese, holy Masses and other sacraments and pastoral services are seldom held in prison facilities. The penal institution currently houses 1,233 prisoners.

Seeing the urgency of the situation, the archbishop promised to look into the matter.

The long distance travel from the city to the prison also hinders the volunteers, who all come from Tacloban, to implement the Integrated Pastoral Program of the CBCP-ECPPC at LRP.

But they look forward to organize soon a VIPS unit in Abuyog to be able to respond to the holistic needs of the inmates with the help of the parish priest.