Catholic Ministry for the Incarcerated honors two

Intermountain Catholic

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Illa Wright (left), volunteer coordinator for Catholic Ministry for the Incarcerated Adults and Youth, is surprised to receive a special honor when Brian Mullahy calls her name. See video online.

SALT LAKE CITY — Lucy Lewis was named Volunteer of the Year for 30 years of service and Illa Wright was given a special honor for 48 years of service to the Catholic Ministry for the Incarcerated Adults and Youth at the Father Thomas J. Kaiser Award Banquet Jan. 20.

Wright is the incarcerated ministry volunteer coordinator for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Both she and Lewis are members of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City.

Wright was so surprised she was rendered speechless when Brian Mullahy presented her with the special honor. Mullahy, a volunteer for the Catholic Ministry for the Incarcerated, also is a KUTV 2 news reporter and weekend anchor.

"Illa has the spirit of God with her," Mullahy said. "We thank her for her 48 years of tireless devotion, time and love she has given to the incarcerated. We speak about what we do for the incarcerated, but what Illa does is allow the incarcerated to minister to us. She has created these wonderful gatherings and banquets, and this award is long overdue."

Wright presented Lewis with her award and said Lewis had been chosen by Christ to serve the incarcerated. Wright thanked Lewis for her time, love and the spiritual guidance she has given to incarcerated youth and adults.

"I just want to do Christ’s work without recognition," said Lewis, who became a volunteer in 1982. "Illa asked me to be a volunteer, but I already had a special love in my heart for the imprisoned," said Lewis, adding that she became familiar with those who had been incarcerated while operating a convenience store on the west side of Salt Lake City. "I would walk and talk with them and chase them when they stole from me, but no matter how old they were, they called me Mom. They are wonderful people. I want to thank all of you. I don’t think I deserve this award; the Lord has given me so much."

Lewis’ son, who lives in Nashville, was present at the award presentation; Lewis thanked Wright for bringing him to attend the dinner.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, was the guest speaker at the dinner. He thanked the volunteers for giving so much of their time and presence to bring hope and the encouragement of Christ to the imprisoned. He also asked them to consider helping the incarcerated when they are released back into society.

"It’s sad to say that for some, jail is the only thing they know," Bishop Wester said. "It seems sometimes that the system itself is not set up to help them; they are just released, sometimes with nowhere to go and sometimes without family."

Some years ago the USCCB wrote a pastoral letter on responsibility, rehabilitation and restoration, Bishop Wester said. "We believe that when we have done wrong, we need to take responsibility for it, seek help for rehabilitation and then be restored into society," he said. "That is the process of healing, growth and reconciliation. I know some facilities do their best to rehabilitate. My point is there is a need for improvement. We have to help those who have been caught up in this terrible cycle of being imprisoned. We wish there was nobody to visit, but human nature being what it is, there are. But doing what you do, you bring a little slice of heaven to our world."

The ministry coordinators from Salt Lake County, Weber County, Davis County and Utah County also presented each volunteer with a Certificate of Appreciation for their service.

"We have these banquets so we can hear words of encouragement," said Matthew Bedel, Weber County coordinator. "Sometimes you feel like you’re out there alone visiting the imprisoned and it can get discouraging."