Address of His Eminence Mikhail Koltun on the occasion of the Day of Special Attention to Prison Ministry

The pastoral word of Mykhailo Koltun, Bishop of Sokal-Zhovkva,

Head of the Department of Military Chaplaincy of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC

on the occasion of the Day of Special Attention to Prison Ministry

(Sunday of the Prodigal Son, February 28, 2021)

To Eminent and Most Reverend Bishops, Reverend Brothers and Sisters in Monasticism, 

to priests and faithful of the UGCC

Glory to Jesus Christ!

We are approaching the Great Lent. Once again, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son reminds us of the prison ministry and provides an opportunity to reflect on our own lives. What can we learn from prisoners who seek support in the sources of faith and rely on the Merciful Father?

Sunday's Gospel of the Prodigal Son inspires us to be bold in trusting God, Who is waiting for us, His children, in hope. The hope of forgiveness is taken over by the heart of the son, who returns home to his father. Therefore, we boldly learn to hope from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who in His parable wanted to strengthen us on the path to forgiveness and finding the dignity of a child of God.

During the coronavirus pandemic quarantine, we all, without exception, experienced episodes of restrictions of liberty in our homes and were able to approach the state of an inmate with our thoughts and feelings. Because prisoner could be often overwhelmed by sadness, uncertainty, numerous needs and lack of opportunities to satisfy them, especially the need for human communication and acceptance…. We also feel as though you are a prisoners of our own sins and omissions, which have repeatedly condemned us in our own consciences. We often perceive our losses, our trials and regrets that we experience as punishment. How to cope with it?

We are bypassing the Day of Special Attention to Prison Ministry at a time when the Ukrainian prison system has experienced a year-long lockdown for visits from outside . This was not the case before. Because society has always had the motivation and opportunity to visit a prisoner.

For prisoners of faith, this year has been a test and at the same time a basis for hope that exaggerates the severity of external circumstances. In the year of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Divine Mercy, His Holiness Pope Francis addressed the prisoners: “We need to nourish the roots of our hope so that they can bear fruit; primarily, the certainty of God’s closeness and compassion, despite whatever evil we have done. There is no corner of our heart that cannot be touched by God’s love. Whenever someone makes a mistake, the Father’s mercy is all the more present, awakening repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.” The same goes for us.

The Heart of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord and Savior, encourages us to be courageous in hope and hope, as heart that endured the sword of suffering and weeping for Her Son, Who offered himself for our sins as a voluntary sacrifice of redemption for the forgiveness of our sins.

Finally, pastors were re-admitted to the ministry, with certain restrictions on quarantine. We pray for them and for the prisoners. Remember in our prayer the prison staff as well. Let us be sensitive to the need to support victims of crime and their families.

 + Michael

* In accordance with the resolution of the fifty-first session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the UGCC (Chortkiv, July 13-14, 2010), it was decided to pay special attention to the pastoral care of prisoners on Sunday of the Prodigal Son.