Yesterday, after months and months of waiting for them to clear me, I finally got to go with one of my parish priests to do prison ministry.

When I was working, I used to go into many different kinds of places where those convicted of crimes were held, including prisons, and I’ve missed serving that population.

So, I showed up yesterday under a beautiful blue sky to a women’s facility and I followed Father back to our makeshift chapel. It was basically a neglected classroom.

Father quickly took a table and began to make a simple altar.

The announcement was made to the women that they were welcome to come and join for prayer and worship and, as time ticked on, nobody was coming.

As we waited, my priest said, “Sometimes they do not come. But, we will still pray the Rosary and have Mass because it is so important to bring the presence of Christ here.”

And so, my priest, another volunteer, and I prayed the Rosary, praying for open hearts and for all those incarcerated.

Then, we started Mass, and I have to tell you, it will go down as one of the most memorable Masses I’ve ever been to.

There we were in this dingy classroom, under harsh fluorescent lights with a very simple altar. As I was kneeling on the dirty, hard tiled floor, I was moved by the whole situation. God is everywhere spiritually, yes. Yet, through the priest’s hands and the words of Christ, at the Consecration, Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity become physically present.

Christ was then physically in our midst, just like He was in our reading today from Luke where Jesus comes to disciples.

Though no women came to join us, it was not a waste of time. It was good, Catholic Pilgrims, that we brought the physical and spiritual Presence of Christ into a place where so much hope is lost and darkness often lingers.

Have a blessed Third Sunday of Easter.