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Order of Friars Minor’s (OFM) Collaboration with Prison Ministry India

    -Br. Pradeep Anthony, OFM

St Luke’s Gospel explicitly states that one of the missions of Jesus is to set the prisoners free (Luke 4:18). I truly see that this has been the goal of our OFM collaboration with the PMI over the years. In this Ruby Jubilee Year, the PMI has carried Christ’s mission all over India. I have collected the experiences of our Friars who have served in Prison Ministry India What I see in them is the common aspect of joy in witnessing to Christ’s Mission.

Friar Thomas M. J., OFM (2006)
Any successful story or any successful effort always began with a reference point. As a follower of Christ and one who ought to be a Joyful Franciscan, I always looked at the “Gospel of Jesus” as the reference point of my life and ministry. “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Mathew 9:36). “Be compassionate like Jesus” was what an inner voice always whispered in my ears in my youth. My involvement with Prison Ministry India (PMI) was the right platform to bear fruits in response to my inner voice which kept telling me, “Be Compassionate like Jesus”. My association with prison ministry started from my Novitiate and went on all through my formation period. As a young priest my involvement in the National Office of the PMI helped me to persevere in the path of the Order of Friars Minor’s (OFM) in its collaboration with Prison Ministry India, keeping this motto in mind: “be compassionate”. Prison ministry is a ministry of compassion with reference to Jesus who was always compassionate to the weary, oppressed, rejected, unwanted, uncounted and exhausted.

Friar Naveen George, OFM (2007)
Br Pradeep’s request reminded me of  the rich experience that I had in the year  2007, the year of my regency in  the Prison Ministry India national office  at Koramangala, Bangalore. The national coordinator, Fr Sebastián Vadakumpadan, assistant director, Fr J.L. Savari Nayagam HGN and the secretary Sr Johnsi HSM with their rich experiences contributed a lot to enrich my experience in my prison ministry. I was placed to work in the national office, Bangalore but the nature of the work was not that of office work, but rather of like publishing Prison Voice, visiting the central prison, Parappana Agrahara. That was really a rich experience which I still cherish even after 14 years. It was the custom in the national office to have daily adoration of one hour in the morning before beginning our work. The central prison in Bangalore at that time had around 5000 people inside the Parappana Agrahara jail including all the inmates. Looking at the life inside, it made me realize how much the prisoners felt the need of someone to listen to their problems. During those visits I came across dedicated and committed Sisters like Sr Lilly Pereira FMM, Sr Adele and some others and their commitment made me realize how much more joy there is in giving than in receiving.

Friar Roshan Lobo, OFM (2015)
I had a great experience of working with  the PMI in 2015. Visiting the Central Prison Bangalore every Sunday for the Eucharist and meeting the inmates gave me an opportunity to understand their struggles and be empathetic towards them. It was truly a learning experience and I cherish every moment of it. I was also overseeing the construction of the Kolbe home.

Friar Emmanel Christopher, OFM (2017)
My article ‘Regency at Prison Ministry India is an Adventurous Journey’ illustrates my view on prison ministry. I acknowledge that PMI gives one a fabulous opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters who are behind bars, especially those who are considered as mere numbers. I was wonderstruck by the principle of PMI: ‘Rely totally on God’s providence’. PMI also taught me that it is possible, that despite ones busy schedule, one does not forget God.

Friar Nideesh John, OFM (2018)
I was very fortunate that I could be part of the PMI in the year 2017. I got involved in all the activities of the National office of the PMI. The most memorable days in my Prison Ministry were the preparations we made for the Prison Ministry Sunday. In coordinating the Prison Ministry Sunday program, I was able to visit most of the parishes in Bangalore and I witnessed how the volunteers and faithful love and serve the prisoners for their betterment. I could witness the prisoners’ life-transforming experiences and their deep faith and conviction in Jesus. It was a memorable day for me when I came in contact with an innocent prisoner who was falsely accused in his old age while in an old age home in Kerala. My life experiences with the rehabilitated men and women who were under the care of Prison Ministry changed my outlook toward those in prison. I enjoyed being with the prisoner’s children. The whole team of PMI depends completely on the providence of God. My life with the PMI family enriched my vocation and gave me more strength and confidence to face the challenges in life.

Friar Alphonse Velankanni, OFM (2019)
Prison ministry India is an institution where one realizes one’s own strength. What is more, PMI also demands or calls for a lot of hard work, commitment, service attitude and perseverance. St Francis served lepers during his time. In the same way, we are serving our brothers and sisters who are behind bars; they are the lepers of our times, who are neglected by society. They are not considered as persons but rather as numbers and criminals, who are in the clutches of the evil one. PMI is a ministry which fosters prayer, challenges our love and engenders hope for life. Prison ministry helps us to live in communion with each other. Though we are coming from different religious backgrounds, we focus on three things, 1. Release 2. Reformation and 3. Rehabilitation of our brothers and sisters who are behind bars. In fact, we who are in the prison ministry along with the inmates pray together, work together, play together, and eat together as one family and there is a community spirit among us all.

Friar Pradeep Anthony L., OFM (2021)
Thanks to Fr Francis Kodiyan, the co-founder of PMI who asked me to collect the experiences of Friars to write an article. This existing foundation laid by many other friars who preceded me has really enabled me to begin my regency journey with much enthusiasm.

 

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