Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I Was in Prison … and You Visited Me


“Knights have the opportunity to reach out to offenders. The Prison Ministry can be a transforming experience” says Sir Knight Stan Pidsadny of Monsignor F.A. Clinton Assembly 2307.

When Jesus walked the earth, he encouraged his followers to reach out to those in prison. He spoke of his kinship with men and women who were incarcerated: “… I was in prison and you came to visit me…. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:36, 40).

The Light of Christ Shines Brightly In The Knight
The Prison Ministry is a movement of faith because of Knights like Stan Pidsadny and his wife Lady Marilyn who heeded the Lord’s words. They sought out the undesirables who were hard to love; people whom society had marginalized. Just as Jesus saw the value in people, so, too, do the Knights of Columbus.

The prison ministry is growing, and The Knights of Columbus have become a respected and visible presence in the justice system. In Canada, Knights visit federal and provincial institutions to provide services to people in the correctional system. These services are a much-needed and important part of our ministry as one of Canada’s largest fraternal social service organizations.

While much of corrections work is best done by trained professionals, Knights can support this ministry in a variety of ways. You see, being visited by someone whose “job” it is to do prison work is not the same as being visited by someone who is there simply because they have made a conscious decision to care. The impact on both the visitor and the offender can be life-changing. The heart of a volunteer—especially one whose love for the unloved comes from the very core of our Catholic faith—is a powerful force for good.

For centuries, ordinary people with a heart for the unloved have reached out to offenders. The power of this ministry can change the lives of so many people and it may even be a transforming experience for you.

A Letter To The Knights & Ladies Form Lady Marilyn Pidsadny
RESPONDING TO HUMAN NEEDS
I read a passage from Scripture sometime ago before I was a Volunteer in Prison Ministry. Matthew: 25 “I was in Prison and you visited me” This kept me thinking is this what God wants me to do? I prayed about volunteering to this ministry. The moment of commitment was when I was approached by my husband. I said yes. My husband had already committed to volunteering earlier. Yes, there is fear and yet there is something inside that says Please Go and See.

This ministry of volunteering has been more than I would ever dream could be possible, to give God's Love, Hope and Forgiveness to Prisoners. We are not there to Judge them but to support them that they will never offend again. It helps change their lives, reducing the likelihood of not returning to Prison and restore them back into the community. The ministry is important if these men are to have HOPE for their future and an opportunity to change their lives based on personal knowledge and experience of the Love and Forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

The transformation one sees in Prison effects your life and your heart it’s hard to explain everyone is different. They love us to come and visit them, they treat us so good like a family, the outside world does not know the changes that are taking place in our institutions - We Do As Volunteers. It is so touching to hear their prayer intentions in Chapel for their families and for themselves. Those serving time in Prison deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
As a volunteer this Prison Ministry has been the most fulfilling experience and I am privileged to be able to bring God's Love, Compassion and Mercy to the inmates, I thank God each day for hearing his call. To Say Yes.

I am open to any questions you may have, call (604) 538-8017 or email pidsadny@telus.net
Lady Marilyn Pidsadny