April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Chaplain takes on new role
"That's the biggest thing I've tried to maintain when I walked through those prison walls: I was there for everyone, whether an inmate or employee. I've always looked at everyone in prison as part of my family," he said.
His family just got a lot bigger. Earlier this month, Father Hayes became ministerial program coordinator and chief of chaplains for the 72 correctional facilities in the New York State Department of Corrections. Previously, he served as chaplain for Great Meadow and Washington Correctional Facilities in Washington County for nearly 20 years.
Changing role
In his new position, Father Hayes will supervise prison chaplains from Christian and non-Christian faiths, coordinate religious programs and visit facilities. His previous role involved providing spiritual service to Catholic inmates, whether it was celebrating Masses, administering sacraments or developing volunteers for such programs as Residents Encounter Christ (REC) or Renew 2000.Father Hayes first got involved in prison ministry after visiting his friend Rev. Vincent Forde, who was imprisoned in Ireland during the mid-1970s for supporting the Irish Republican Army. At the time, Father Hayes was director of the Cohoes Consolidated Religious Education Program, and he decided to attend Siena College evenings and earn a sociology degree, with a concentration in social work.
Added ministries
In 1979, Father Hayes took on dual responsibilities as Catholic chaplain at Great Meadow and pastor of St. Ann's Church in Fort Ann. Soon, his work at both places grew to the point where he gave up his parish ministry and focused full-time on prison ministry. He also became Catholic chaplain of the Washington facility.Father Hayes described his years at the two prisons as "an incredibly good experience. Great Meadow was tough, but I enjoyed working there." His work primarily involved celebrating two weekly Masses at each prison, administering Reconciliation and Baptism, and preparing inmates for Confirmation.
Occasionally, Father Hayes would officiate at weddings, but the inmate had to have been involved with his fiancee before entering prison. "I absolutely refused `jailhouse weddings,' when they meet in prison," he said.
Supportive
Father Hayes also formed a support group for HIV-positive/AIDS inmates in 1981, but the most sensitive aspect of his job was advocating for inmates dealing with the death of loved ones, especially when the inmate was considered too dangerous to be allowed to attend the funeral. In those cases, Father Hayes did everything he could to help them, and said they appreciated his effort no matter how the situation turned out.Counseling inmates was challenging, he said, especially because so few admitted guilt for their crimes. Many defended their actions by saying they were justified for killing or stealing; some simply believed they got a raw deal and shouldn't have been convicted.
"I learned not to discuss men's crimes, only if they bring it up," Father Hayes said. "Sometimes, it's so heinous, you can't get by it."
Faith-filled days
Good Catholic inmates lived their faith daily, and a typical week would include Renew 2000 or Life in the Spirit meetings, RCIA preparation, Bible study, Third Order of Franciscans' meetings, choir rehearsal and Spanish liturgy. More than 38 percent of Great Meadow's 1,600 inmates were Catholic, but only those whose faith was authentic were looked upon favorably."If you're sincere, they respect you, but if you're phony, they'll see right through you," Father Hayes noted.
Some inmates seemed unwilling to change their ways, even after getting involved with the Church. "There were fights, and I was always on edge after that," he said.
On the road
Father Hayes had planned to leave as chaplain at Great Meadow and Washington at the end of the year, but he was recommended for the position with the New York State Department of Corrections and took the job. He lives at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Schenectady, where he is the weekend assistant. Once he gets settled into his new position, he plans to be on the road two days each week visiting the 72 correctional facilities.There are a significant number of Catholics in the state prison population, but with other Christian and non-Christian religions represented, Father Hayes must take an interreligious approach in his new job. That shouldn't be too difficult, based upon his experience at Great Meadow and Washington.
"You have to work with the other chaplains, and I've been very fortunate to work with some good ones. It absolutely broadened my mind on the spirit of ecumenism," he said.
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