PORTUGAL, Maria de Lurdes Paredes. In one-way or another, we feel imprisoned much of the time, without the freedom that all men desire. I think that serving a prison sentence is one of the harshest possible realities. I thought long and hard about taking up this apostolate. I was motivated by the translation of a reflection/prayer on Fr. Kentenich’s testimony in Dachau, where he went of his own free will to give his life for his friends, but always with an unshakeable faith in Divine Providence and the protection and care of the Blessed Mother. He used this to achieve true interior freedom of all of God’s children, for all belong to the family.
Tires Prison is a women’s only prison and many of them are mothers. Some of them can keep their children with them until they are three years old. Several missionaries took the Pilgrim Mother Campaign to the prison some ten years ago. I offered to be a missionary, knowing that they needed someone on the weekend to substitute one of the missionaries who had become ill, and to help a missionary, Antonieta, who over the years has given her love and life to all the prisoners, they are all her family.
The shrine was there with all its graces. Jesus was among his favorite children
When I arrived and was introduced, I was very well received with hugs and kisses, mixed with tears by all the prisoners. Their testimonies were the most moving and authentic I have ever heard, and incessant tears often accompanied them. The prayer and reflection on the rosary, accompanied by songs were blessed moments around the Pilgrim Mother image and a small photograph of Fr. Kentenich. The Shrine was present with all of its graces. Jesus was among his favourite children.
On Good Friday together with Fr. Miguel from the Holy Spirit Movement, the Stations of the Cross and the Adoration of the Cross occurred in the Good Shepherd Chapel. It was a powerful experience of Christ’s Passion and is almost impossible to explain how I felt amongst the weeping. Many wanted to confess to Fr. Miguel, others kept an incredible calm and strength, while others hugged Antonieta, the friend and mother who listened to them and had restored their home and faith, who treated them as her daughters, and not as numbers or unwanted people, who had restored their self-esteem and dignity.
I was in prison and you visited me
In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” and in Matthew 25:35-37 He says: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me…For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…I was in prison and you came to visit me.” I think that this is how God wants us to act in the new community, welcoming and accepting those whom society has set aside.
We need everyone. We need Christians to follow Jesus’ footsteps as Fr. Kentenich did, people like these missionaries and many others. We need even non-Christians to take goodness and mercy to these places where dehumanization reigns.
Only Love will free us from “our prisons”
Last year – don’t know the date — the Pilgrim Mother was crowned as the Queen of Freedom and Joy.
Today, more than ever, the new commandment that Jesus gave us echoes in our hearts: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
God is Love! Only love will free us! Only Love will free us from “our prisons!”
Sarah-Leah Pimentel: Johannesburg, South Africa: English translation
