Volunteer for Residents Encounter Christ program

Resident Encounter Christ (REC) volunteers of the Albany Diocese visit area prisons and hold programs for the inmates. (Matthew Ansley from Unsplash photo)

Several weeks ago, Father Jim O’Rourke mentioned from the altar of my parish a new YouTube video that captured my attention. The video (Ted Talk Coxsackie) was filmed at Coxsackie Prison and it featured the Catholic deacon, Stephen Lake, and some of the inmates in that facility. The inmates gave testimony regarding how they were making life changes. Since my first viewing of the video, there have been others added. I found it to be moving as well as revealing as the inmates were able to express the difficulties and frustrations of being cut off from a world to which they would one day return.

A few weeks after viewing the video, I attended a half-day retreat for members of Resident Encounter Christ (REC) and their guests. It was held at St. Peter’s Church in Saratoga Springs on Sept. 23. The retreat included music, prayer, talks and discussions that focused on the work of REC volunteers of the Albany Diocese who visit area prisons and hold programs for the inmates. Both I and about 30 other men and women gathered at St. Peter’s Church auditorium heard music, listened to talks and had discussions that helped us to understand why we were there. Three excellent talks were given by Denise Stasik, Deacon Brian Levine and Barbara DiTommaso. I came away from this retreat with a deep admiration for those who are engaged in this work. Yet I wondered why I had not been aware of this program until recently. Consequently, I decided to write this article for the Evangelist.

There were several themes that I heard over and over. One was about the anxiety that almost everyone experiences when entering a state prison. Another was the gratitude that was expressed by the inmates who participated in the sessions. The volunteers pointed out that in time they got over the anxiety. They also discovered that some of the inmates did not receive telephone calls or visits from friends or family members and it became clear that their visits consequently were even more valued by these inmates. 

Some of the inmates expressed surprise as well as gratitude toward the volunteers whom they did not know for taking the time to visit with them. Their surprise no doubt stemmed from their prior experience when few people reached out or tried to help them even though they were in need. It is clear that some of the aims of this program are embodied in Christ’s admonition during the Sermon on the Mount “to visit the imprisoned.” These volunteers also send the message to those who are imprisoned that there are people on the outside who care about them and want them to succeed.

These visits also provide the opportunity for the inmates to think and talk about their hopes and aspirations regarding the future when they return to society. The sessions can also be a learning experience for them in which they can focus on the skills they might need to navigate in society and to amend their lifestyles to help them avoid repeating mistakes of the past.

At the retreat, I learned that REC (Residents Encounter Christ) has a website: recrcda.org. This website contains a great deal of information about this project and it includes information about the way individuals can become active members. I would note that there is a particular need for more persons of color to join the program. I would encourage those who wish to participate in the program to review the manual for volunteers as it contains a great deal of information about the operation, goals and functioning of this project,

I recognize that most who read this article will not be able to volunteer. However, I would urge those who cannot volunteer to tell others about this program and to pray for the continued success of this program.