Urdaneta City (AsiaNews) - In the prison of Urdaneta, north of Manila, more than 300 detainees are “hungry for spiritual guidance". This according to Sister Mary Audrey Bejer, a Benedictine nun responsible for the Diocese of Urdaneta’s chaplaincy service in prisons, organized by the Episcopal commission for Prison Pastoral Care (Ecppc).
"Our job is to listen to the suffering of prisoners and keep the flame of hope alive in their hearts despite the pain and hardships suffered during their period of detention", Sister Bejer says, adding that "this is the grace of God working in their lives. Prisoners love and see the hand of the Lord who still loves them and cares for them. "
Sister Bejer visits the prison twice a week with a group of volunteers, including priests, lay and religious. During these days, which begin with the celebration of Mass, they offer prisoners catechism lessons, moments of listening and prayer. Also the volunteers, through vocational courses, help prepare prisoners for their reintegration into society once their sentence is finished.
"I am happy to serve God through this work," says Sister Bejer, "because I can see in each of the prisoners the suffering face of Jesus, while listening to their hardship and pain." The religious concludes that "What I and other volunteers are trying to do is show the compassion of God through small works of love. The Church says that sinners should be loved while the sins committed by them are to be condemned. "
In the Philippines, where 87% of the population is baptized, the Church has a vital role in the treatment of prisoners. Nevertheless there are only 17 full-time chaplains employed in prisons with regular pay. These chaplains officers can barely do the spiritual work. ECPPC Volunteers as well as spiritual enrichment and professional services also offer free legal advice to those who can not afford it. In this way they help accelerate the release of prisoners deemed innocent or awaiting trial, often kept in a cell only as a precaution and without assistance. Each diocese is also in close contact with the authorities of the institutes, with the aim of improving the conditions in accommodation and meals found in prisons, where from 40 to 50 inmates are often crowded into a space of 30 sqm.
