Sunday, April 16, 2006

Benedictine Nun Sees Easter's Message in the Lives of Prison Inmates

Prison inmates remain out of sight and out of mind for many people, but not for Sister Timothy Kirby. Twice a week, the 87-year-old sister passes through the gates of the Federal Prison Camp in Duluth to tend to the spiritual needs of inmates.

The gentle silver-haired sister plans to be there today -- on Easter -- to give the homily at a family service. For her, the Easter message of resurrection and redemption is reflected in the inmates for whom she cares so much.
Duluth NewsTribune


2 comments:

James Pawlak said...

Perhaps the good sister could spend some quality time with the victims of the criminals she visits.

"Homily"---I thought that was a task limited to priests and deacons.

Unknown said...

I would guess that the "victim" of the inmates at the Duluth Federal Prison Camp, a minimum security institution, was usually the Federal Government. It is my understanding that tax evasion, mail fraud and white color crimes predominate among those kept there.

"Homilies" indeed are restricted to priests and deacons at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

At prayer services, anyone may preach, and the use of the word "homily" may have been incorrect. But as it does refer to a message relating to the Bible readings of the day for the Mass, certainly Sister Timothy could give a homily on those at a prayer service.

Although I didn't have her as a teacher, I do remember her from my time at the old Duluth Cathedral High School in the late 50s. (That's the one that had a four story building and a 1" by 200' campus). She was very popular with the students and I'm sure that she would be very popular with the inmates today.