Behind the walls of the Edmonton Young Offenders Centre (EYOC) are young people—between 12 and 18 years of age—whose lives have often been marked by trauma, instability and profound challenges long before they entered the justice system. The EYOC houses approximately 20 to 35 youth awaiting trial, including repeat offenders—often as a result of breaches of bail conditions—as well as youth accused of very serious crimes. Approximately 85 per cent are of Indigenous descent and 85 per cent are young men.
The centre has three separate units: one for young women, one for young men, and a segregated unit for youth presenting serious behavioural challenges. It is within this complex and often difficult environment that our Prison Ministry team seeks to offer something that many of these young people have experienced far too rarely: compassionate presence, unconditional respect, hope and the opportunity to discover a path toward forgiveness, healing and a different future.
Our team consists of four volunteers from Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Spruce Grove: Harriet Fraser (who has visited the EYOC for many years with her late husband, Deacon Hyland Fraser), Deacon Pat Hessel, Angela Andreychuk – a counselling therapist at the Misericordia Community Hospital – and Dr. Bob Garneau. Two priests from the Archdiocese of Edmonton have been volunteered to support us in providing the sacraments of Baptism and First Reconciliation to those mentees who desire and are prepared to receive these graces.
We are sponsored by and affiliated with the Archdiocese, which gives us the authority to enter the prison (for which we have had to complete an extensive vetting process–with background checks, letters of reference, and fingerprinting) and to provide religious mentorship as well as Catholic instruction and services to those incarcerated at the EYOC.
Angela and I meet weekly with four or five mentees, individually, over two hours. Our team hosts special celebrations at Easter and Christmas, with Liturgical Services and fellowship afterwards (that includes the EYOC staff) with requisite food, refreshments and treats. The team recently formed a Rosary Group, at the request of some mentees, that meets once a month to learn about and pray the rosary. We provide attendees with rosaries and all mentees requesting one with Catholic bibles to promote private reflection, a deepened faith and prayer.
Prison Ministry as we practise it certainly fulfills one of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Priorities: Formation for Confident Witness, in ‘proclaiming the Great Commission to spread the Good New of the Gospel.’ The mandate of all Christians is to evangelize to others, introducing and supporting them to know the promise of eternal life through belief in Jesus Christ and his teachings. Certainly, that includes those in prison, among the most marginalized, vulnerable and vilified members of our society. This commission provides us with the opportunity to ‘live’ our Catholic beliefs, precepts and values, and to provide interventions aligned with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the prophets and with the example of the late Pope Francis.
In Matthew (25:35-40), Jesus himself commanded his followers to care for people in prison: “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” St. Paul has a particular significance to our mentees as he spent most of his adult life in prison facing a death-sentence. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, he gave the fledging Christian communities throughout the Roman empire instruction and inspiration to remain faithful to their Christian values and precepts. Pope Francis maintained his commitment to those in prison from his years as a priest and bishop in Argentina, visiting prisons in Rome every week and including inmates in the Holy Thursday rite of the ‘washing of feet.’
Through our Prison Ministry at the EYOC, our team has an opportunity to introduce those mentees who accept our invitation to meet (with parental permission) to concepts of forgiveness—from the victims and for themselves; repentance and reconciliation–taking responsibility for one’s actions and seeking to make amends to all those they have hurt–victims and their families/communities and mentees’ own families–and, once paroled, reengaging with society in positive ways.
Prison Ministry at the EYOC offers a profound engagement—an expression of Christian love–with individuals who have committed serious crimes but who themselves are (in most cases), victims of abuse, exploitation and neglect and who have grown up without positive role models, a moral compass or the unconditional love, support and nurturing expected from family and community. Most have not attended school on a regular basis, lacking parental expectations and encouragement to do so; being ignored or maligned by fellow students for their poverty, race, and learning difficulties; and having profound learning difficulties. Many suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder which lead to impulsive, amoral and aberrant behaviours. Many eventually become victims of exploitation and threats by gangs who offer those ‘living on the streets’ empty promises of money, a home and protection, without any regard to their welfare.
Whereas they do receive interventions–including treatment at the EYOC and Alberta Hospital for addictions and mental illness, schooling, counseling for anger and impulsivity and prescribed medications–they do not offer solace/empathetic attention to their depression and guilt, teach life-skills to deal with an uncertain and fearful future. Upon release, most have no home, family or friends to offer support. They are sent to group homes or, when space is limited, expected to live on their own in government-funded apartments far from their home communities, where they have to fend for themselves. It is no wonder, that many return to prison after a few weeks of ‘freedom,’ after experiencing loneliness, fear, discrimination, neglect and visits from their exploiters who prey on them and reintroduce them to a life of crime. Prison provides protection and the necessities of life that is not available elsewhere. Many are fated to be incarcerated for most of their adult life, as their desperation and an absence of support leads to recidivism and even more heinous crimes; in some cases, early death.
Our Team’s visits with our mentees are focused on providing unconditional love, affirmation, respect and advice (‘gently’ offered). We promote empowerment, hope and confidence through reflection, prayer and expectations that they are capable of taking and keeping control over their lives and seeking out those who are able and willing to provide them with the supports they desperately need once they are released. We rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, personal reflection, and the objectification of their heart-rendering stories for motivation and endurance. For our mentees, our visits are a welcome respite from a prison life that is monotonous and regimented and an opportunity to interact with surrogate-parents (or grandparents!) who are volunteers and lack personal agendas or ulterior motives. In most cases, we are the only persons who visit them. We are constantly amazed and honoured by the trust, respect and candor they offer us with expressed gratitude, friendliness and faithful attendance.
We don’t usually know how long we have to engage with individual inmates, as their release to attend a treatment facility or on bail is unpredictable. We are not deluded in believing that our efforts will instantly transform them into well-adjusted, capable and repentant persons ready and able to reintegrate with society, but it is ‘better to light a candle than curse the darkness.’
The challenges of Prison Ministry are many and profound. Those who aspire to this work need to accept and respect two critical understandings: it is not your place to judge them (the courts and society do that) and you cannot fix them (their psychological needs surpass our mandate and expertise).
The qualifications for this important commission are few but profound:
- A deep and personal faith in God, especially in the intersession of the Holy Spirit in our commission and with those to whom we are ministering
- A profound humility and appreciation of the privilege that the experience provides, serving to deepen our own faith, humanity and gratitude
- A deep respect for the inherent worth of every human being, the power of redemption and the potential for each of our mentees to reform and to be saved by God’s mercy
- Well-developed listening skills and empathy: the ability to be attentive to the words and body-language that are presented with each encounter, considering them without judgment, avoiding a lot of questioning and the urge to analyze and respond to every comment – periodic silence is ‘golden’
- The ability to discern the insights and learning that each encounter provides to mentors and to be aware of instinctual biases in our thoughts, feelings and habits.
The greatest challenge our Team faces is the recruitment of suitable and qualified individuals who are able to expand our services to the EYOC (and other area prisons) and to, eventually, assume our responsibilities when the time comes when we are unable to continue in our roles.
Prison Ministry is truly a privilege and a profound opportunity to deepen one’s faith and to appreciate the spiritual gifts that emanate from practicing and evangelizing our faith. An invitation is extended to all practicing Catholics in the Edmonton Archdiocese who are inspired and motivated to undertake this very important role. The rewards are incredible and profound!
-Dr. Bob Garneau
