GLIMPSES OF GRACE

Glimpses of Grace:


Reflections of a Prison Chaplain


By Donald Stoesz


Book can be ordered at www.donaldstoesz.com


Donald Stoesz is a Mennonite Pastor and a prison chaplain in service at the Bowden Institution (Annex).

His intention, in writing this book, was to share insights drawn from his experience, with other people working in the prison system. He has, in fact, written a book of interest to anyone who would like to know more about the nature of prisons and prisoners. Most of us have a flawed understanding of jails, drawn from movies not always noted for accuracy.

When the general public knows that a crime has been committed, it is glued to newspapers and radio until someone is arrested for the crime, and brought to court. Once the prisoner is behind bars, the populace will go on to the next hot story.

There is more to know about the losses and heartache caused by broken families and bad choices, drug use and alcohol, and this author has brought them to our attention. He does not excuse the offences of the detainees, his job is to listen, share the personal journey of the prisoner and offer whatever spiritual guidance and grace will be accepted.

The book consists of 120 vignettes, each one-page long, and covering a wide range of interactions and situations. These are well written, and interesting with names and personalities changed for privacy sake. A pertinent Bible quotation ends each page.

Stories and circumstances show that people we may think of only as “convicts,” are real people. They are, of course, people with dreams and hopes. They don’t want to be forgotten by family, and they love having visitors. They are men who wish their situation was different than it is. The reality and their responsibility in that reality is sometimes forgotten, or ignored. Some people, most often Christians, find a ministry in visiting offenders in prison. They receive training, and then take part in the community with worship and conversation. Romance has bloomed in prison, but sometimes creates problems.

Many religious groups are represented in the prison population. There are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Native Spirituality and Wiccan. There has to be understanding by staff of differing beliefs and practices.

We also read here about Disassociation and Segregation, better known as “the hole.” Some prisoners find a measure of safety in such a place, the irony of a prison within a prison.

Reverend Stoesz leads us quite gently to a better understanding, showing us that everyone he meets and counsels has his own story, his own excuses, and his own needs. Very often the circumstances of their life and upbringing have been appalling. Still their violence and bizarre behaviours demand incarceration. Very often the only thing the chaplain has to offer is sympathy, a listening ear and the love of God. Bowden Institution is “just down the road,” how little we know about these “neighbours.”



http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/lifestyles/columnists/Bowden_Institution_inspires_prison_chaplain_122667759.html
Peggy Freeman is a freelance writer living in Red Deer.

ST. LEONARD'S HOUSE

From 2003 to 2008, I worked as chaplain at St. Leonard's House, Windsor.  It was the first halfway house in Canada and was founded by an Anglican priest Neil Libby.  Here is their story.

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“Unless our society can redeem those who go astray, we can hardly call ourselves civilized; and, anyone doing the work being undertaken in St. Leonard’s halfway houses deserves the support of all who believe in human dignity.”  Stanley Knowles, M.P.

Little is known for certain of St. Leonard’s history, as his early “life,” written in the eleventh century, has no historical value whatsoever. So let’s begin with the legend that recounts a sixth century French monk named Leonard who saved the lives of both the Queen and her newborn daughter, Bertoara. 

A grateful King Clovis granted Leonard a huge tract of land where he built a monastery christened Noblac. The King permitted Leonard to take prisoners under his care at Noblac, and then release them when they had proved themselves ready. St. Leonard became the patron saint of prisoners; his icon is generally represented holding broken chains in his hands.

In 1962, the first St. Leonard’s half-way home in Canada opened its doors right here in Windsor, to welcome men who had spent time behind bars and needed a safe haven to make a clean start. 

A practical and determined Anglican priest named Thomas Neil Libby and his supporters shared a vision to help offenders rehabilitate in a social climate where ex-offenders were regarded as unfit and undeserving of any support.

Neil Libby (left) pioneered the halfway house movement in Canada; today there are sixteen Society homes and affiliates across the country. Yet, when the first St. Leonard’s House was proposed in Windsor, it was greeted with extraordinary resistance. Neighborhoods and local politicians rallied against the idea of housing “ex-cons.” 

They waved fists in town meetings, screamed telephone threats to Board members and wrote angry letters to newspaper editors describing the dangers and risks to their wives and children, property values and business income.

All this, however, only strengthened the resolve of the founding members and convinced them of the importance of their mission.

Over 40 years later, St. Leonard’s has earned this community’s support. Situated in a modest, split-level building on Victoria Avenue in downtown Windsor, St. Leonard’s Society has intentionally kept a low profile to prevent residents from being singled out as they quietly re-build their lives.

And yet, St. Leonard’s is much more than the bricks and mortar of a building. A United Way supported agency since 1968, the society’s services are designed to give back to the community that supports its work with ex-offenders.

St. Leonard’s provides a place to live for those who have been in trouble with the law, and an opportunity to remove the stigma of being an ex-con through guidance, counseling, and understanding. St. Leonard’s also advocates reforms to the social justice system, to ensure that those who leave prison do not return to the community less able to live crime-free than when they left it.

The Society has steadily grown and responded to the changing needs of subgroups such as probationers, young men and women in conflict with the law, and those dependent on alcohol and drugs. Programs have been expanded to include life skills and job placement training, intermittent

 programs, and Lifeline, which helps those who have received long-term sentences to readjust to “life on the outside.”

St. Leonard’s Society continues to be active in Correctional Services and frequently makes presentations to parliament and other provincial government groups on issues that concern the incarcerated and released offender. They also organize seminars for the public, and develop position papers on the judicial system.

The strength and heart of the society’s work rests on building genuine one-on-one friendships with the people they serve in a setting of support – a place where they are challenged to value themselves and to actively find meaning in their lives through education, employment and relationships within the community.

The St. Leonard’s Society of Canada continues its work in response to the changing social justice environment in Canada.

(reprinted from http://stleonardswindsor.com/St-Leonards/History.html )

THE COST OF 'TOUGH ON CRIME'

The Conservative government's 'Tough On Crime' has a pricetag attached to it.  While this article talks about prison expansion in Canada, I wonder what the real cost is to our national soul when we warehouse people instead of creating new solutions for rehabilitation?

Read about prison expansion here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Federal+prison+expansions+underway+meet+expected+flood+inmates/3475185/story.html

EXPECTATION AND EXPERIENCE

Terry Richardson was the former Director General of Chaplaincy for Corrections Service Canada with an emphasis on Restorative Justice.  I’m passing along a piece he sent out last year to chaplains involved in corrections.  Good thought on how our perspective changes everything.

Kevin Rogers

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

One day, two men left their town and traveled to a new city.   They journeyed separately.   As the first approached his destination, he stopped to talk to a wise man sitting under a tree.  “Tell me sir, what are the people like in this city?” he asked.  The wise man replied, “What were the people like where you came from?”  The traveler responded, “They were mean and greedy, looking for every opportunity to get what I had!”  The wise man said, “You will find the people here like that too.”

Later, the other traveler encountered the wise man as he approached the city gates.  “Tell me sir,” he also asked, “what are the people like in this city?”   The reply was again, “What were the people like where you came from?”  This second traveler responded, “They were warm and friendly, always wanting to reach out and help.”  The wise man replied, “You will find the people here like that too.”

Two people having spent their time in the same place traveled along the same road.  They arrived at the same destination, yet with such entirely different perspectives.  Obviously the wise man’s question revealed more about each individual, than either where they came from or where they were heading.

The story is replayed among us.  It could be about staff at an Institution, about offenders doing their time, or about the journey of life.  Experience colors expectation.  The past affects the future.   The big question is: Do things deteriorate or improve?  One traveler becomes hardened and the other blossomed.  Strangely enough they both find what they look for.

What do you expect as you look ahead?  What attitudes are you carrying with you?  Will they drag you down or lift you up?  You know your own answers.

Like the travelers with the wise man, why not approach someone for a dialog about life.  God can help.  Spiritual resources such as worship, prayer, reflection, conversation with a faith leader, life in a faith community assist us in getting us past the hard negative attitudes.  It’s not magic, it’s a journey. It might involve deep thinking, laughing, crying, attitude adjustments … whatever reshaping of our experience is needed to reshape our expectations for life.  “Asking, seeking and knocking” are involved.

It’s too bad the first traveler didn’t walk with the second.  Then, he would have gotten to know someone warm and friendly, someone wanting to reach out and help.  That experience itself might have opened up a new horizon for him.

Walking alongside of each other.  Getting to know each other.  Taking a measured risk of trust. These can be spiritual experiences:  gifts from God that can lead to hope rather than frustration for the days ahead.  Why not walk with someone on your journey?