What is prison ministry like? I get asked this a lot and, like any other ministry, if you have the demeaner for it is a phenomenal ministry. I remember the first time I went to jail about twelve years ago. I was nervous, and completely out of my element because I’d never been in jail before and although I’ve seen jails on television and in movies, it’s just not the same as the real thing. The deacon, the priest and I walked into the common room of the cell block and began setting up for mass. The priest with us that day was a retired man named Father Joe who was preparing to celebrate Mass in the cell that day. Father Joe was wearing his alb (pronounced “all-buh” – a white robe worn by the priest during Mass) so you could not see his Roman collar. Soon, the prisoners began filing in one by one. The deacon and I shook each man’s hand and greeted them as they entered. I especially recall one inmate. He… Read More »What Is Prison Ministry Like?