Offering Centering Prayer in the County Jail This is the story of a long and winding path that brought one Episcopalian to ministry with women in jail. She volunteers with Criminal Justice Ministry. Begun in the late 1970s by a Roman Catholic priest working part time in the city jail, it's now focused on re-entry services with a special emphasis on veterans, and people who been incarcerated for ten or more years statewide. When someone is in jail for a decade, they often lose their communities of support. There are classes focused on things like daily living skills like navigating health care and medications, using cell phones, anger management. There is mentoring, help finding stable housing and a job. There are many volunteer advocates, including over 100 letter writers. But a very few are called to a listening ministry, one-on-one time at the jail.
"You'll do"
Mary Taylor, member of Trinity Church in the Central West End of St. Louis, is no stranger to the judicial system. She was a healthcare attorney and represented abused kids for 12 years. And, as a long-time foster parent, she got to know the parents of the kids she used to care for, and spent time with them in jail and the family court system. “I know how thin the line can be for some people, especially those who have grown up in a difficult home or as foster child. Some of these folks are third generation foster care kids. There is a thin line between having a job and your kids and home and then suddenly not. It often starts with stupid mistakes, and many of them involve drugs and choosing abusive partners.” She had a notion of wanting to find a ministry place in the system, but met a lot of dead ends. She trained as a spiritual director at Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C. She kept searching for the place she was meant to be. She made the decision to let it go, the call to this
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Making Disciples
work, and make her peace with that. But, the Holy Spirit. Mary received an unexpected call from Sister Jude, BVM, a nun working for many years in one-on-one prison ministry in the county jail. At the end of a very long and frank conversation, and after reviewing Mary's training and experience she told her, “You’ll do.”
A safe space to cry, to pray
Some of the women want to talk about God and to pray. Some want to cry, as it’s not safe to cry in the jail. Some have been hurt by the church, or have been taught about a God of punishment and harshness. In her listening ministry every Wednesday, whomever wants to lines up to share time with Mary. She sits and listens to whatever is on their heart. Some people are there for two weeks, some for three years, and most are awaiting trial or on a probation violation and can’t make bail. For a few it’s the fifth or sixth time in jail and their families are fed up with them. There is a lot of loneliness and sadness.
Centering Prayer class begins
For those interested, Mary was teaching the technique of centering prayer. Finding a place and time to be one-on-one with God, sharing deepest desires and regrets, offering thanks for the people in your life supporting you, the people taking care of your children. And then, being quiet and listening to what God has to say. “Any good relationship,” she added, “if you do all the talking, it’s not a very good relationship.” A core group of inmates were praying. They came to Mary a few months ago to ask if she would lead a class on centering prayer and meditation, one where Christians and Muslims and those from other faiths would feel welcome. She
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For the Life of the World
worked on the ability to bring a bell into jail, but it was considered contraband. She received free materials from Prison Contemplative Fellowship (PCF), Thomas Keating’s group. And Prison Mindfulness Institute gave her a scholarship for one of their courses. The inmates set up the parameters of the class, a six week pilot project that started in October. They are choosing the participants, trying to pick people who will be there for six weeks.
Always, prayers needed
How can you help? This program costs nothing. You can contribute to PCF to help them continue their donations. But, your prayers for this ministry, for the incarcerated seeking God, are critical. “People often say they know there are problems with the criminal justice system but have no idea what to do about it. You can pray for us. People in there are grandmothers, sisters, aunts, some have made mistakes or are addicted, some have made no mistakes. When they remain in jail, they often lose everything. CJM is always happy for more volunteers. Any church could invite these folks to come and talk about this ministry and a the many ways to get involved. Even if just to be aware that at any time there are 1300 people in the St. Louis County jail.
Answering God's invitation
Mary said, “For so many years I listened to horrible stories of abused kids as their attorney. I’d listen and then try to tell their story in court. Un-hearable stuff. It’s no wonder no one wants to get involved with that kind of suffering.” She started using guided imagery prayer as a practice back then. She’d go to the Carmelite Monastery in Clayton straight from jail, take her book of first names of everyone she had continued on pg. 10
