“There are so many amazing, impactful, and important ministries at SFA, which make our catholic community unique. We all have different skills and charisms and are called in different ways to serve the Body of Christ. For me, after attending mass at St. Francis for the first time, I opened the bulletin, and ‘boom’ it just jumped out at me,” says Vince Kavanagh. “God wasn’t calling me to do all the ministries, just the one that serves the prisoner.”
“People are called to this corporal act of mercy ministry to provide love, service, caring, and nurturing relationships for people who have never experienced that in their life before,” says Vince, adding, “these are people who often grew up in traumatic and abusive circumstances that led them to a life of crime committing truly horrific acts. None of the men on Death Row are who they were 25 – 30 years ago when they committed these crimes. None of us is who we were when we were younger, and that is the beauty and hope in God’s Divine Mercy and compassion; we are all afforded the opportunity and are worthy of love and redemption. We treat the inmates based on who they are now as fellow humans and not judge them for the worst act in their lives.”
Some parishioners or their families may have concerns about sharing personal information with men on Death Row; however, those concerns often fall aside when interested pen pals speak with those who have been writing to men on Death Row for many years, some with 15 years of experience or more. The Pen Pal ministry has always been important, dating back to the Franciscans who served our community and would say mass at the prison. Since then, we have gone from writing letters by hand to corresponding with the men online or through a secure texting app used by Central Prison. Discovering how enriching this ministry is doesn’t take a multi-year relationship. Many pen pal ministers consider their guy to be a family member, and I have often heard how our ministers feel they are being ministered to by the inmate, as opposed to the other way around.
While this is specifically a writing ministry, many pen pals develop such amazing, long-term relationships that they may schedule in-person visits. Our path as Christians is replete with calls for compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. As Jesus says in Matthew 25:36, “I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Vince explains, “Showing compassion, humbling ourselves, being curious and providing an outlet for these men to share life experiences, faith, talents, and skills helps them regain a sense of their humanity. One of the common themes I hear from the guys is that they are looking for a connection to the outside world, to make a positive impact or contribution, and for ways to expand their lives. One of the inmates worked with the governor’s office to gain access to the GED program so that they could complete their high school education. It’s truly remarkable what they produce from what little resources they have in prison. Some write poetry, coauthor books, or create beautiful works of art, while others produce music and host podcasts. They even celebrate birthdays together. It demonstrates their desire to belong, have a sense of community, be a part of each other’s lives, and to treat each other as people.”
Vince says, “A unique aspect of the Prison Pen Pal Ministry is that it is personal to the individual. It’s not a ministry with a hard schedule of ‘at this time and this place we will all do this.’ It’s purely a matter of when the spirit moves you. Text your pen pal using a secure app or pick up a pen and paper and write, from the comfort of your own home, on your schedule. We are writing to over 60 of the 121 inmates on Death Row, and we still have several men who have requested pen pals, but we can’t fulfill their requests. We seek new pen pals to support this long-standing, rewarding, and invaluable ministry.” To join or find out more, please email sfapenpal@gmail.com. The ministry has many experienced and involved members who can answer questions, and if you join, they will provide support. We hold three meetings annually, where ministers gather to share experiences, listen to guest speakers, and ask questions.