Bishop celebrates Christmas Mass with Estrella inmates
By Gina Keating | January 15, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
The concrete walls at Estrella Jail may have been impervious to holiday music and lights, but the sanctum of the chapel embodied the spirit of Christmas through the hearts of inmates.
Three dozen incarcerated women joined Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted on Christmas Day to celebrate Mass.
“I always look forward to this,” the bishop said. “The only reason they can rejoice is because God gives them this gift of hope. Hope gives them a future.”
Julie was among those participating in the liturgy.
Although her black-and-white-striped clothing and pink sandals matched everyone around her, she was distinguishable by her pale-blue eye shadow and pretty smile.
The 28-year-old is in Estrella on drug charges, and will soon be transferred to Perryville to serve a one-year sentence.
“I’m upset, disappointed and ashamed of myself, but I know everything happens for a reason,” Julie said. “I’m here to give my thanks to God and try to make the best of the situation.”
The bishop put the women at ease immediately by sharing the story of how his grandniece once yelled “pray for me!” as she was being taken out of church for misbehavior.
After the laughter subsided, Bishop Olmsted punctuated the story by saying, “That’s where we all are — every one of us needs God. What she said is the truth. That’s why we need to be persons of prayer — not to change one year from now, but today. In this place you are called to be holy.”
The majority of the 1,000 inmates at Estrella Jail are female. When they are not attending educational, drug rehabilitation or life-skills classes, the women read, play card games or walk.
“A lot of people try to sleep the day away to get through the holidays,” said Stacy, a 33-year-old mother of two.
Stacy has missed Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and her children’s birthdays in the five months she has spent in jail on fraud charges.
“This experience has taught me to never take things for granted,” she said. “I hurt because I caused my family and children pain. All I can do now is hope they can learn from my lesson.”
The bishop’s homily spoke to many of the women in the room, who wept openly. He gently walked them through the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth, and explained that by God becoming one with us in humanity, He demonstrated great love for us.
The bishop used imagery and a reference to the song “You’ve Got A Friend,” made famous by James Taylor, to reiterate God’s great love.
“In the song, you’re there for someone. That person you love is more important than your own convenience. That is love,” the bishop said. “Jesus reminds us that being with others and for others is the essence of love.”
The small chapel is sheltered from the noises of shuffling feet, clanging doors and intercom announcements.
It’s void of any personality, except for the people gathered in it. Stacy said they are her family now. They look after one another, sharing the good and bad of each new day.
Bishop Olmsted understands the hearts of these women, and finds comforting words to express their grief while illuminating the joy and hope of the Savior’s birth.
“To be there for others, you are reliable, faithful, dependable and loving. Christmas is a great revelation of love… He can transform your life wherever you are,” the bishop said.
As he gazed out across the sea of faces, Bishop Olmsted said he saw, “loads of tears.”
“It must break their hearts to be without their families. The Christmas morning Mass is a chance to remind them they can do something from here,” he said. “Their prayers and sacrifices give meaning to the tears and to the pain.”
