Stepping Behind the Walls: A Reflection by Fr. Helmut

Over the last several months, we have had the great privilege of working with Fr. Helmut who joined the Thrive For Life family earlier last fall. Visiting from the Jesuit community in Austria, Fr. Helmut works closely with our spiritual care team to visit and accompany our brothers and sisters behind the prison walls. In December, Fr. Helmut joined Fr. Zach and His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan for an Advent celebration with our brothers at Eastern Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. He reflects on his first trip inside an American prison and his experience of encounter with our friends behind the walls. 

“We are driving through wonderful nature, passing by small hills, surrounded by many autumn trees.  Sometimes I see lakes with sparkling water, nice houses and on the road, there is not a lot of traffic. I speak with Fr. Zach and he explains to me what life is like in the US. For the past two weeks, I have lived at the Xavier Jesuit Community in New York and have been working with Thrive For Life. Originally, I come from Germany where I was ordained a Catholic priest. I later went on to lead a youth center and retreat house for young adults in Austria for over 6 years. But now, I will visit a very different world. Today is the first time that I will visit a prison in the US.

As we drive past the rolling hills and trees, I suddenly see the prison in the distance: a large place with a lot of buildings and green space, surrounded by a large wall with barbed wire. I thought to myself: What will await me there?

As we arrive, we go quickly into the prison. Today was a very special occasion: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, had come with us to visit the prison and celebrate Mass with our brothers behind the prison walls. Together with the Cardinal and the staff, we made our way to the chapel. A beautiful picture of the Holy Mother adorned the space, radiant with hope and confidence. And then I see the prayer community: many people behind the walls with folded hands in deep prayer. Cardinal Dolan then celebrated the Eucharist with us all. We sang and prayed together as a community, and listened to the Gospel and received the Holy Eucharist. I was deeply moved by the tremendous faith of all those who came forward to receive the body of Christ. In that moment, Christ was truly among us.

Even in this place with its large walls, barbed wire, bondage, and exclusion comes Jesus Christ into our lives and our world. He comes into these places where nobody else will come. He even visits those places that are lonely and dark.

For me, the prison is a place of Advent. We are waiting for freedom and peace. We are waiting for one who will change our life, our world. Together, we await the coming of our savior Jesus Christ. Maybe the people behind the walls have something to teach us all about waiting in the spirit of Advent.”

We thank Fr. Helmut for his vocation and ministry here at Thrive For Life!