What REC is about

Raised in a close-knit, Catholic family, he received a Catholic education beginning in elementary school and earned a football scholarship to college. His family gave him the best opportunities that life had to offer.

But eight years ago, a fight landed him in prison. During that time, he has received forgiveness from his family and friends. He has experienced the forgiveness of Christ. And, difficult as it has been, he has also managed to forgive himself.

Today, he tells his story to fellow inmates at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie during the Prodigal Son talk that is part of the Residents Encounter Christ (REC) weekend.

Nearly 50 inmates, most in their early to mid-20s, are participating in the retreat led by a team of 16 lay ministers from parishes throughout the Albany Diocese. Through prayer, Scripture, talks, group discussions and song, the inmates are given an opportunity to know Christ and to share in His love and mercy.

The REC program began in the late 1960s in a county jail in Lawrence, Mass., where three Franciscan priests offered a retreat for inmates.

REC came to the Albany Diocese in the early 1980s when Dom Alonzo, a parishioner of Assumption/St. Paul Church in Mechanicville, discussed the possibility of a prison ministry with several men who were interested, including parishioners of Corpus Christi Church in Ushers who were involved in the Cursillo program. The first REC weekend in the Diocese was held at Mount McGregor Correctional Facility in Wilton.

(To participate in Residents Encounter Christ, call Tom O'Connor at 765-4959 or Rich Winslow at 399-4366.)(PQ)

(06-11-98) [[In-content Ad]]