My experience of ministering in prison in a foreign country at first was frightening. I kept thinking that I could contribute to these women deprived of their physical freedom. On the first day I was accompanied by lawyers Glenda, our Associate, and her friend. As soon as we arrived, after they introduced me, they went into a living room and left me on the patio with them alone. I felt a little lost not knowing what to do, soon some women approached, bringing table and chairs and told me that you will going to do counselling. They started coming and talking to me, but in their language, when I said I didn't understand their language, they called an American prisoner to be the interpreter.    

I returned other times and proposed to do yoga, they were enthusiastic. At first we did only postures in which we stand. After returning from the General Chapter they had finished building a suitable place, so we bought the yoga mats and donated them to prison, after classes led to a relaxation, and then proposed sharing the experiences, immediately after doing a Biblical reflection. After a few months I realized that they were losing enthusiasm for yoga, and they have Zumba classes three times a week, they like something with fast movements, and we also lost the physical space since the teacher started teaching different subjects, to another group on site. We are left with the biblical reflections, where they share the Word connecting with their life stories.  

My experience in this ministry is very rewarding, I have learned a lot from them, although they are deprived of their physical freedom they seem very happy and confident, 
I would like to put some sentences spoken by them: “In  prison I found God”, another said: "I feel so safe when you are with us, Spiritually you always guide us to walk the straight path of our Faith". another said: "You have been a very important part of our lives, as we here in prison with you have learned many things especially about the God's Word, and it is essential in our world today, and we consider you our mother." "...it somehow you helps us confront from the heavy problem that we are dealing facing".

They have a lot of freedom in there, they have their prayer groups, they can do their own food, wash their clothes, have parties, receive frequent visits, and also do various activities such as making bread, sewing, tending the garden, doing manicure, etc. I shared with them a little about our prisons in Brazil, they have no freedom to do anything, they are confined in a very small space.

Sometimes we worry too much about unimportant things and create our own prisons forgetting that God is in charge. I keep thinking about other types of prison that we create, I believe the worst prison is one where we close ourselves, forgetting that we are beloved and dear daughters of God, who is always by our side, with an Eternal love. We only have much to thank God, for His love is without measure, that He teaches us to love without expecting anything back, out of sheer gratuitousness, that we can see the wonders He gives us every moment of our lives.
     I thank the Congregation for giving me this opportunity. When we trust Him nothing can go wrong. I am glad to have had the opportunity to provide this service to them. The experience was very interesting, I believe it contributes a little with them, sharing their life stories.

Sr. Maria Lucia Barbosa de Oliveira, sfp

Published: January 20, 2020