This is part 2 of a prison ministry story. Click here to read part 1.
Mary Tucker, AUX leads Catholic Religious Education
“Tuesdays are more difficult than many realize,” Mary Tucker, AUX says about Epiphany Catholic Prison Ministry’s Fellowship Days. While classes are taught on almost every day of the week, Tuesdays are the most popular. Homework assignments are required as prepartion for Christian based Bingo, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Faith. Inmates further along in their religious journey assist newer ones in running and playing the games. Groups pick captains. Answers are signaled with Dr. Suess sounds like woo-hoos, ding dongs, honkers and chargers. Play money is involved or sometimes Mary sneaks in candy.
It took two years to create the “The Tree of Life” game which features seven branches of gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, fortitude, counsel, piety, knowledge and fear of the Lord. Students are asked to pin 12 apples to the corresponding branches which represent the fruits of the Holy Spirit: peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, love, chastity, modesty, faithfulness, self-control, generosity, and goodness. “When someone mistakenly puts the “patience” apple, for example, on the “understanding” branch, and an audience member snickers, that person gets into the hot seat,” Mary too enjoys the comradery created by learning.
Epiphany Bingo! is the most popular Tuesday Fellowship game. Every inmate gets a packet of 250 Catholic vocabulary words from Absolution to Vow. They are required to study their cards before playing. One of the parishioners reads a definition of the term and in turn, the players shout out the answer. Epiphany Prison Ministry is not only preparing these men for a new life but showing them one.
Becoming Clean Again
Through ECPM, CCI is the only prison in Florida where indigent inmates receive a bar of soap and deodorant once a month. The support for this program comes from local parishes like the Epiphany Catholic Church and St. Vincent DePaul. Since many families disown their relatives once they are incarcerated, inmates will become aware that one of the most basic needs will be supplied by the Church inside.
Mary concedes she isn’t the ideal person to fulfill the role of prison ministry leader. She is seventy-five years old and a widow. She wishes a young man would step up as he would be seen as a more likely role model. This is unlikely. But she doesn’t see herself as frail. She sees herself as protected and chosen to do this work. It is often excruciatingly difficult but more rewarding than anything she says she could imagine. Besides, she adds, depending on the age of her parishioners, she is often seen as a sister, mother or grandmother. Last year, Mary Tucker, AUX was awarded the Order of Malta’s Presidential Award.
For more information on joining an active prison ministry in your area, please contact MJ Kriz, co-chair of the Prison Ministry Committee, maryjo.kriz@gmail.com
Written by Alexandra Lehmann, PMC Volunteer
