Prison work enhanced by missionary experiences

To her friends, she's Lois. To her children, she's Mom. And to the inmates at Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility in Wilton, she is Senora.

A former Maryknoll missionary to Peru and current parishioner of St. Joseph's Church in Fort Edward, Mrs. Pino holds the distinction of being the first woman appointed as Catholic chaplain at the all-male correctional facility.

As chaplain -- a position she shares with Rev. Matthew Conlin, OFM -- she is responsible for nurturing inmates' spiritual lives through Bible study, Confirmation classes, Masses, retreats and counseling.

Life in Peru

During her time as a Maryknoll sister in Peru, she served among the Aymara campesinos in the Andes, working among women's groups, teaching religious education and helping out with healthcare concerns.

What she learned from the Peruvian people about the Hispanic worldview comes to prison with her each day because a large percentage of the inmates are Hispanics, she told The Evangelist.

The Aymara people held that "we are integrated, body and soul; that God is a part of everything; that a person can live with great dignity and still be poor," she explained, adding that to divorce religion from daily life is unthinkable to the Aymaras.

Hispanic touch

Hispanic immigrants to the U.S. are faced with situations and economic disadvantages that sometimes "get some of them into crime and addiction," said Mrs. Pino.

Immigrants sometimes have difficulty speaking English; others may not have an education; and, for some, the breaking of strong family traditions in Latin America opens doors to re-establish ties through gangs.

Prisoners are "on the edge of society," said Mrs. Pino. "We put them away, lock them up and forget them. We need to ask ourselves, 'What kind of men and women do we want back on the street, and are we willing to put our time and energy into rehabilitation and affecting change in their lives?'"

Back to society

One of Mrs. Pino's prime tasks is to ready inmates for re-integration into society. Once outside, they find themselves confronting a world that has changed since their sentencing -- and, sometimes, a world that does not look kindly upon them.

"One of the reasons for re-entry into the prison system is the lack of job skills or the inability to find a job where people accept a person with a record," Mrs. Pino explained. "People are reluctant to house and employ them."

She stresses to inmates the importance of finding extra support once outside the prison. For recovering addicts or alcoholics, she recommends continuing attendance at recovery groups and counseling sessions. For all, she advocates involvement with a parish or religious organization in order "to become involved in a church where they can contribute something and feel that they are receiving support back."

Serving

Upon returning to the United States from Peru in 1985, Mrs. Pino worked in the music ministry at St. Joseph's and taught Spanish to children at St. Mary's in Glens Falls.

"Ministry has always been a part of my life," she explained. "Living in a Hispanic culture for so many years, and seeing that life and Church and spirituality are so integrated, it was natural for me to go back to a job into which I could really incorporate all those things."

The fact that she is a woman in an all-male facility has not presented problems. She calls her six months at Mt. McGregor a "pleasant experience," and she appreciates the welcome given her by the staff and most of the inmates.

"These men will be working and going back to their families," she explained. "They will be working with women, so it's good to help them in that transition. On both a group and individual level, they've been accepting of me -- and I am glad to be there to help them."

(5/29/03) [[In-content Ad]]