By Nina Shephard, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration
I serve on the La Crosse County Jail Ministry Board. The compassion and love we all have for people currently in jail encourages us. Our work is to help them in every way we can. We do this in part by supporting our chaplain, Ann Wales, whose compassion and dedication are an inspiration to all.
With my companion, Pat Ruda, retired FSPA partner in mission, I meet monthly for evening scripture sharing with a small group of women who are currently serving sentences there. A number of these women also participate in a larger scripture program facilitated by Ann. Those who meet with Pat and me always speak positively about what they experience together and with Ann. They proudly bring the Bibles they earned by participating in a study group and sometimes invite others in the block for Bible readings and discussion.
Pat and I are also part of a La Crosse County Jail program called Circle of Support in which four or five people meet with someone who has been released from jail to walk with them on their journey forward.
The jail ministry motto is “Building bridges to better futures.” The pasts of these women have been filled with difficult things such as abuse, trauma, neglect, rejection by a mother or the family and the addiction that often follows. Incarceration allows time for self-reflection, building hope for the future. Too many times, the difficulties they encounter upon release overwhelm them. Often they have no place to live and do not have a job. They don’t have new friends and so turn to the old ones with whom they got into trouble in the first place. Even at that, many retain the hope they built while in jail. Sometimes it takes several tries to act on these resolves.
Scriptures we share reinforce the self-image these women hold as someone eminently lovable. That love begins with God. My hope for them is to never stop believing that God holds each one of them as His special creation. They may then begin to have compassion for themselves. We invite the women to continue developing a relationship with God, maybe renewed or for the first time.
It is then I can see hope for the future kindled in their hearts.
My heart aches for these women when recidivism occurs and they fall back to the beginning all over again. But when I see them seeking help, and beginning to trust God, I feel hope along with them.
Pope Francis, in his edict declaring 2025 to be the Jubilee Year of Hope, invited all to be pilgrims of hope; to embark on personal journeys and experience moments of “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus.” Ann Wales, La Crosse Jail Ministry Chaplain, ministers to incarcerated individuals in the maximum-security facility that holds men and women convicted of federal offenses that range from child support delinquency to murder. She is sharing some encounters she’s had in one-on-one meetings with them, many who are true pilgrims of hope.
“Just yesterday a resident of the jail told me that when he became incarcerated last year, he read a comic book version of the Bible from the jail library. It was after reading the comic book version that he decided he understood enough to try reading the traditional Bible. He is also reading it along with other guys in his block. He will be getting out of jail next month and has already decided which church he will attend. He also plans to bring his kids to church as he wants them to learn, too.”
“Another resident, seeking a relationship with God, approached me. I gave him a Bible and encouraged him to start with the Book of John, 20:31: ‘But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have a life in His name.’ I also encouraged him to begin meeting for study with a cell block mate. He said later he learned a lot from the man. He was especially grateful the block mate didn’t make him feel stupid for what he didn’t know. He will be released next week, has a church to attend in mind and is hoping to find someone to disciple him. I gave him ideas and told him to call me at the jail if he needs help with that. He shared that he was supposed to have been released sooner but believes God kept him there a little longer so he could learn about the Bible.”
“Residents are allowed to make two free phone calls each day from their blocks. If a call requires navigation through automated prompts, it won’t go through. I have permission to give phone call privileges to residents and recently assisted a veteran who was trying to work out finances and health care. These important calls were numerous and required automated navigation to complete. With the additional privileges, she successfully secured the information she needed and is now set to go to treatment without care or worry. She is so looking forward to the whole body healing she will receive for her PTSD and addictions. If she completes the treatment program, her record will be expunged, greatly increasing her living and working opportunities.”