Retreat delivers the faith to men in prison

“For I was in prison and you visited me … Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Those words of Christ, from Matthew’s Gospel, speak to the work being done through prison ministry, where those often forgotten can grow in faith, be led to the faith or be converted to the faith, through simple caring and evangelization.

Deacon Jim Smith, co-director of a recent Kolbe Prison Ministry weekend retreat at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton, said there were many highlights throughout the weekend, as various events impacted the men in a unique and personal way. One inmate echoed the thoughts of all the men he spoke with, “I am grateful to have gone through the Kolbe retreat. It was exactly what I had been needing.”

Kolbe Prison Ministries (KPM) is named for Saint Maximilian Kolbe, martyred in a German concentration camp during World War II. He is a saint of prisoners. The mission of the prison ministry is to share agape love of Jesus Christ with those in prison and to teach the fullness of the truth of the Catholic Church to the incarcerated.

“The content of the retreat is 100% Catholic, although men from all faith backgrounds were welcome,” Deacon Smith said. “The weekend included personal testimonies and faith sharing, Masses, reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, foot washing, the rosary, Chaplet of Devine Mercy, and Eucharistic Adoration was available throughout the retreat.” 

According to the KPM website, “We are led by God’s call through the corporal words of mercy to visit those imprisoned, through Kolbe Prison Ministries. This ministry has enriched and reinvigorated the spiritual lives of thousands of inmates. Many of the inmates open their hearts to the word of God and begin to make positive change in their lives.”

Kolbe Prison Ministry has been active in Texas since 2009, and has done hundreds of retreats in Texas, adding retreats in Louisiana in recent years, and last year held their first retreat in Florida.

“This was the first Kolbe Retreat in Oklahoma,” Deacon Smith said. “Kerry Johnston with Kolbe Prison Ministry in Texas and I were co-directors of this first retreat. Deacon Allen Mikell, director of the prison ministry for the Tulsa Diocese, was also active in the planning and execution of the retreat.”

Deacon Smith said the Kolbe Prison Ministry Retreat is patterned after the ACTS Retreat, which itself is patterned after the Cursillo Retreat. He added the retreat is meant to provide the men a chance to grow in their faith and to grow in their knowledge of God’s love and concern for them.

The men received the grace of the sacraments and the love of the team members. The retreat is focused on providing the men hope, while learning to embrace their status as beloved children of God.

Other retreats will be scheduled at the Great Plains Correctional Center and other prisons in the state.
Kolbe Prison Ministries is seeking volunteers to actively participate in their mission to take the Catholic faith to the imprisoned. Those involved seek say they prayers for the victims of criminal acts, for their families, for those who are locked away, for those who volunteer to visit and work within the prisons, and ask for prayers for their ministry. They pray for the offenders that they put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, knowing that they can be forgiven for their mistake and live the will of the Father.

For more information about Kolbe Prison Ministries go to kolbeprisonministries.org.

Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.




Fifty-four men participated in a Kolbe Prison Ministry weekend retreat in February at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton. Photos provided.