Verghese V Joseph –
Old Goa: The 13th National Convention of the Prison Ministry India (PMI) got off to an inspirational start on Wednesday at the St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, in Old Goa. The three-day convention will deliberate on the theme ‘Reform to Reintegrate’ from 16th to 18th November 2022.
Delivering the Presidential address, his Eminence Felipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao called on the PMI volunteers to invest time by listening, appreciating and loving the prisoners to enable them to reach their self-actualization and enjoy true redemption.
The prelate commended the volunteers of the PMI (Goa Unit) who are celebrating the silver jubilee of their passionate service of Christ Jesus in the Goa prisons. Cardinal Ferrao recalled that the patron of the Archdiocese was a prisoner in Sri Lanka and it would be right to call him the Patron Saint of Prisoners in India.
The keynote speaker, Bishop Alwyn D’Silva, the Chairperson of the PMI, cited that the six lakh prisoners lingering in the prisons of India was not just a number but the immense expression of pain and agony of their parents and families which is unsurmountable. When the world does not recognise prisoners as citizens, he said, the over 8000 PMI volunteers serving in the 1350 prisons of India was an attempt to reform the prisoners to reintegrate them into society for their integral human development.
In the inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Judge Desmond D’Costa, the Member of the Human Rights Commission, Goa recalled his days as the District Judge where he directly witnessed exemplary service of the prison ministry volunteers to help prisoners tide over their stress and struggles of everyday life in the prisons. Judge D’Costa stated that prisoners are often the worst victims of the violation of fundamental rights. He emphatically confirmed that a prisoner continues to be a human being, a natural person, and a legal person and so conviction does not make him/her a non-person.
Earlier, Fr. Francis Kodiyan, the PMI National Coordinator, felicitated the dignitaries and welcomed the 458 delegates from all over India for the Convention. He reminded the delegates of the PMI spirituality that ‘inconvenience should be the convenience of every PMI volunteer’ and, “hence as members of this ministry we have to carry every constraint in prayer. He urged every delegate to be creative and energetic in the service of the ministry.”
Pope Francis, in his message for the Convention presented by Fr. Maverick Fernandes, Director, Caritas Goa, commended the many volunteers who care for the spiritual and material well-being and dignity of our incarcerated brothers and sisters with equity, compassion and fraternal solidarity, for to serve those in prison is to serve Jesus himself. Later, Fr. Wilfred Fernandes, PMI Central Regional Coordinator read the message of the Apostolic Nuncio. Mr. David Fernandes, PMI Goa State Coordinator proposed the vote of thanks.