Diocese of Tucson Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 17, Sept. 7, 2010

Most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas,  Bishop of  Tucson, Bulletin Vol. 8, No. 17,  Sept. 7, 2010

  

"Maximilian" Gives His Witness:

This Wednesday will be a very special day for a young inmate at the Arizona State Prison in Florence.

He will stand and kneel behind the door of a locked visitation room as I give him the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

He has chosen "Maximilian" for his Confirmation name. He chose it after reading about the life of St. Maximilian. He was inspired by how St. Maximilian overcame evil with love.

Just like his patron saint who became a martyr for love, "Maximilian" too will now be called to be a witness to the love of Jesus Christ.

How fitting the reading is for this Wednesday from 1 Corinthians: God causes growth; we are God's co-workers; we are God's field; and we are God's building.

"Maximilian" will give his witness to God's amazing grace this Wednesday.

I am grateful to Deacon Ed Scheffer, who ministers at the Arizona State Prison in Florence, for introducing me to "Maximilian."

Power of Conversion:

I wrote last week about how I would be visiting "Maximilian," a young inmate at Arizona State Prison in Florence, who had decided to give witness to his love of Christ by joining our faith.

The power of God's call to conversion became poignantly visible for me and Deacon Ed Sheffer of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish when we stood Wednesday in a cell block at the Central Unit of the prison.

Deacon Ed had spent countless hours preparing "Maximilian" (the name he chose for his Confirmation) for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation.

Separated by the door to his cell, we talked. "Maximilian" thanked me for coming and expressed what a moment of joy and repentance this was for him. As we were preparing to begin Mass, he humbly asked if we might remember at Mass the person he is serving time for having killed.

Tears were flowing down his face when he put his shaven head through the small opening in the door of the cell through which he receives his food so that I could sign him with the Oil of Catechumens, the Sacred Chrism and the Water of Baptism.

As Deacon Ed and I prayed during the Mass we could only see "Maximilian" through the steel meshed glass of the cell door. He stood, he knelt, he sang, he put his face in his hands, he offered the prayers he had learned from Deacon Ed. He was actively participating in the Liturgy.

I thought how true conversion is truly life changing.

Let  us pray for all who are imprisoned, those affected by their crimes, those who minister to them, and all the wardens, administrative staff and correction officers who serve in our corrections facilities. It is terribly difficult work, but once in a while you see a small sprout of new life appear in what otherwise is barren desert.

Source:  http://www.diocesetucson.org/Sept10memo.html


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On 9/6/10 Jeremy wrote: "… my deepest heartfelt thanks to you and Bishop Kicanas. … Experiencing the Mass and receiving the Sacraments was beautiful and intense. … I was so overwhelmed with so many emotions. … I feel a peace, confidence, and singleness of purpose and direction I have never known and I am ready to face the tribulations that are coming. I feel strength, purity, and my spirit is freed from a tremendous burden I have been carrying."