“The pages of the Order of Malta Prayer Book are like the stained-glass windows in churches for church goers. It’s the way people absorb the faith.”
Fr. Father Rich Deschaies, SJ
Chaplain, Middlesex Jail and House of Correction
When Fr. Rich Deschaies, SJ, found a storage room in the jail with stacks of Order of Malta Bibles, he knew he had something special. “I was delighted because they were nicer than any of the other Bibles we had,” he said. Having worked in prison ministry in a variety of locations during his priestly formation and as a parish priest in Connecticut, Fr. Rich is now a contract chaplain at Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in Billerica, Massachusetts. The facility houses men who are pretrial detainees as well as those sentenced to 30 months or less.
The way the Order of Malta Bibles are laid out is important because often, the men are unfamiliar with the Bible. “The Order of Malta Bibles have bigger print, chapter headings and breaks in the paragraphs. They’re much easier to read.” Fr. Rich said the inmates also appreciate the glossary and short articles that introduce each of the books of the Bible.
The fact that the Order of Malta Bibles and prayer books come in Spanish as well as English makes Fr. Rich’s job easier. “When I started 10 years ago, there was almost nothing in Spanish, so at the time, I didn’t have anything to give to the Spanish-speaking inmates,” he said.
The Order of Malta prayer books in particular are popular, even for inmates who are not able to read. “It’s a Catholic connection. They might not read the book, but they might hold it, put it on their chest when they’re lying down on their bed. It makes them feel bonded to the Catholic community. They’re desperate for connection with God. I believe that Christ connects with them and is present to them. When we connect with them as the Church, it’s a palpable experience for them of Christ.”
For more information about the American Association’s Prison Ministry Program, contact Craig Gibson, Chair of the Prison Ministry Committee at cbgibson@comcast.net.
