Catholics involved in jail ministry visit the incarcerated to distribute ashes as Lent begins

Friday, Feb. 19, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — About 15 incarcerated men of various faiths received the Rite of the Imposition of Ashes at the Salt Lake County Oxbow Jail on Ash Wednesday.

In a short reflection before imposing the ashes, Father Arokia Dass David, jail minister and parochial vicar of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, reminded the men of the words from James 5:19-20. “It says if any one of us has done anything wrong and gone away from God, and another one brings that person back to God, he saves that soul and covers his own multitude of sins. When trying to change another person, we change ourselves in the course of transformation,” he said. 

Fr. David urged the prisoners to pray for one person during the 40 days of Lent.

“Also, as we fast and abstain from meat, offer the meal for that person; whenever you sacrifice it is more powerful because Christ’s love is sacrificial love,” he said. “And tell that person that you are praying for him or her; if you find something in the Bible, share it with that person. By Easter, if we bring one person back to God; it can be ourselves; we will have happiness and peace.”

One of the incarcerated men, who gave his name as Librado, is a Catholic who is bringing other men to the Catholic services in the jail, he said. 

“That feeling of helping others helps me realize there is hope, and that we are forgiven,” he said. “We just need to read the Scriptures to find ourselves.” 

During Lent, Librado plans to pray more and fast as he can, he said. “It is great having the jail ministers come; they give us hope. I appreciate that they stick with us. Before I came in here I wasn’t practicing my faith the way I should, but I am now.” 

The sign of the cross in ash imposed on the forehead is used as a mark of repentance. 

“Those who receive the ashes will be able to make Lent a path of perfection,” said Father Eleazar Silva, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, who also is involved in the jail ministry. “The incarcerated are able to receive the Word of God; those who focus on the Word lose themselves. Drugs and sex are temptations, they are not spiritual. Only serve God, not things of the Devil. If we knew that we only belonged to God, our path would be clear.”

“The ashes represent sin,” said Joaquin Mixco, a jail minister and permanent deacon candidate. “We carry sin on us like the ash on our forehead. If it is so easy to wash the ash from our forehead; why aren’t we as willing to rid sin from our lives? I think the prisoners’ spiritual journey can be a very important process for them; they are in a desert, alone, without the people they love, not doing the things they want to do. It’s very much like the spiritual journey Christ was on when he was in the desert. They should think of this as a time to heal and get themselves right with their own souls and with God.” 

Merce Butler, a Sts. Peter and Paul parishioner, has been a jail minister for three years. 

“When I visit, I talk to the prisoners, read the Gospel to them and explain it to them each week,” she said. “They respond and ask me questions. I try to bring them hope and the love of Jesus. I tell them they are not the only one suffering; their families are also suffering because of their situation. I notice they are happy when we visit. When we leave they say, ‘Thank you for coming.’” 

Programs such as the jail ministry, addiction and life skills “really help the prisoners’ rehabilitation and teach them how to learn job skills and how to go back into the community and be productive,” said Salt Lake County Sgt. Cammie Skogg, public information officer. “A lot of these guys are close to getting out.”