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Regency at Prison Ministry India

My Regency began on 2nd June 2021 at the Prison Ministry India National Office. It is the hub of the entire Indian region of different states. With the help of approximately more than 7000 volunteers Prison Ministry India is reaching out to five lakh prisoners all over India. On 8th December 1981, Fr Varghese Karippery and Fr Francis Kodiyan, MCBS, who were Philosophy students then at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, responded to a powerful message they received from the Most Holy Eucharist to become Love-bombs to heal the broken-hearted in the prisons. Their response is the result of Prison Ministry India.

I was welcomed by Fr Francis Kodiyan, the Co-founder of PMI, Sr Amala DC, Fr Rajendra Kumar, Fr Sebastian V.C, Sr Basil SCS Sr Joanna SCS and all the Kolbe home children with a short cultural programme. I am very happy to involve myself in all the community activities. The day starts at 6:15 am with thanking God with a prayer by the children. This is followed by the Eucharistic Celebrations and Yoga, then again we have half an hour of adoration at 9 A.M during which we pray especially for our benefactors and one of the states of India.

Then the day proceeds either by taking classes for the children or in going to the bank, the post office or doing the marketing. In the evening we have work, followed by games and then again at 6:30 PM we recite the rosary and once again participate in the Eucharistic celebration at 7PM. Most of the Kolbe children are children of prisoner. Therefore, their formation is vital and challenging task.

Another name for Prison Ministry India is Jesus Fraternity. The spirit of fraternity among them is clearly visible because of their strong prayer life. The PMI’s spirituality is explained by Rev Fr. Francis Kodiyan in the book called ‘Rainbow-Theological Foundations of Prison Ministry India.’ Their spirituality is Jesus centered and people-oriented. I was really surprised to witness that in spite of the Corona they were able to reach out to many people.

It is Jesus centered because they have reached out and are still reaching out to many prisoners especially by their strong 24-hour intercessory prayer before the Eucharistic Lord. It is people oriented because PMI has in this Ruby Jubilee year proposed and planned to undertake great projects like the construction of 40 houses for the released prisoners, 400 scholarships for students, 4 Kolbe homes, 40 PMI Special Task Forces and 4000 volunteers. I wish that their undertakings may bear more fruits and accomplish the mission entrusted to them by Christ. I am very happy that our fraternity has given me this opportunity to work with them in my regency year.

Br. Pradeep Anthony L OFM

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