Moments of Transformation and Healing: Our Retreat for Families Impacted by Incarceration
“No walls, bars, or barbed wire can separate us from our loved ones. Today, we hold them in our hearts as we look forward to their return home.” - Fr. Zach, addressing retreatants at Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona, NY.
On March 20th, more than 200 people gathered at Our Lady of Sorrows, in Corona, Queens, for our first Day of Prayer for Our Incarcerated Brothers and Sisters sponsored by Thrive For Life. Prior to the pandemic, teams of trained spiritual mentors offered resources for an examined life to folks behind the prison walls. Since then, we have been unable to fully resume our in-person retreats in prisons and jails in New York due to restrictions on congregant activities and volunteers in the Department of Corrections. In response, Fr. Zach and Pablo, our Spiritual Care Coordinator, innovated a new retreat program to accompany families who have a loved one behind the walls. To kickoff this new chapter in our journey, we were beyond honored to welcome Bishop Robert Brennan to pray with our community on this special day of contemplation, reflection, and hope.
Participants learned about Thrive For Life’s mission and history, and listened to testimonies of people with loved ones behind the walls and formerly incarcerated individuals. Two resident scholars at Ignacio House (Italo and Omar) shared their respective stories of transformation, emphasizing a unifying theme of hope and restoration. We were also humbled by the moving words of a mother whose son was serving time behind the walls. She spoke at length about the anguish of separation, while also reminding those gathered that one day we will be reunited with our brothers and sisters.
Continuing in the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Zach guided the retreatants in a meditative examen to remember moments in which God has healed and transformed their lives, acknowledging and giving thanks for God’s presence in their everyday life. Then, Fr. Zach anointed the forehead and hands of the participants, while Thrive For Life volunteers gave each one of them a rosary. These rosaries are the same kind that our brothers and sisters behind the walls receive after attending a Thrive For Life retreat. These rosaries symbolize the prayerful and loving union of our community family, both behind and beyond prison walls. At the conclusion of the program, Bishop Brennan celebrated Mass, offering special intentions for our brothers and sisters behind the walls. In his homily, His Grace reminded us of the Gospel’s call to accompany those cast to the margins and reiterated the fundamental and inviolable human dignity of all persons.
Fr. Zach and all the Thrive For Life staff are very thankful to all the participants, nearly two dozen volunteers, Bishop Robert Brennan, Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens, and the pastors and parishes in Corona, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights for their continuous support and hospitality. We also thank the beautiful parish community at Our Lady of Sorrows, faithfully shepherded by Fr. Manuel, for sharing their space with us for our retreat. With them, Thrive For Life has successfully started a new chapter in our mission to transform lives behind and beyond prison walls.