June 16, 2021 at 7:10 p.m.
PRISON SIDE BAR
By Judith Riescher
I am writing to those interested in volunteering in the Albany Diocese’s “Residents Encounter Christ” program. My husband, Tom, and my oldest brother, Bill, had been involved in REC for about 10 years before women were allowed on the team.
After my youngest brother’s funeral, there was a message on our answering machine, inviting me to join the Hudson Correctional Facility REC team. I was very nervous but felt it was a sign from Jesus that I should say yes.
I filled out my paperwork and was on my way. The team met once a week for several weeks prior to the weekend, preparing talks to present to the residents. We always began with prayer. The Holy Spirit was present all the way!
The weekend came and after checking in at the front desk and getting past the scary gates slamming behind us, we began an amazing weekend of prayer, talks and song. By Sunday afternoon, there was an amazing transformation of most of the 65 men present.
The weekend was fantastic, but that was only the beginning. We needed to keep showing up to prove that we really cared. We continued with weekly visits which included Mass or a Communion service, followed by fellowship and discussing the readings for the following Sunday. All was great with our program, but then the population of Hudson changed to teens. Unfortunately, they weren’t interested in REC so Tom and I joined the Greene County Correctional Facility’s REC team.
We are a little more restricted with time because the facility has a much larger population. Our REC weekend was cut to once a year instead of twice and our weekly visits are cut down to about 45 minutes instead of three hours. We had just enough time to discuss the Sunday readings for the following Sunday. But, the Holy Spirit was still present.
Again, we believe it’s about just showing up and caring about the men in green. REC has changed the life of so many men and it has changed my life, too! If you decide to volunteer, it will change your life, too!
Judith Riescher and her husband, Tom, are parishioners at the Church of St. Patrick in Ravena.
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