Archbishop Edward Gilbert and Prison Ministry members arrive at Carrera

Members of the RC Prison Ministry visited the Carrera Island prison together with Archbishop Gilbert and Prison Chaplain Rev Robert Christo on Wednesday morning. Prison Officer 1 Joel Roberts and Rev Christo carry the painting done by prison inmate Michael Ramoutar and presented to the Archbishop on behalf of the Prison Service. Photo Dexter Kelly.

Archbishop Edward Gilbert last week visited the country’s prisons, meeting and chatting with prison administrators and prisoners.

At each institution – in Port of Spain, Golden Grove and Carrera – the Archbishop delivered a brief homily on the theme of Advent.

He advised his listeners that change came from the heart and began with a personal decision to accept or reject Christ.

The visits also included a programme of entertainment by prisoners and question-and-answer interchanges between His Grace and inmates.

The prison tour, organised by Acting Senior Superintendent of Prisons I. Roachford, brought back memories of Archbishop Anthony Pantin’s visits to the Carrera prisons in the week before Christmas.

Accompanying Archbishop Gilbert last Tuesday and Wednesday were chaplain Deacon Robert Christo and other prison ministers.

On Tuesday members of the Prisons Secretariat and their benefactors participated in Evening Prayer at the Abbey, Mount St Benedict. In his homily Archbishop Gilbert urged prison ministers to be willing to question how they do things, not allowing themselves to get into a rut; to try to relate to the prisoners, asking what sort of help they need rather than deciding what they think they should get. An enjoyable get-together outside the Abbey’s Retreat Centre brought the evening’s proceedings to a close.