Testimonies

San Quentin State Prison is an iconic American prison. Over 150 years old, it has witnessed thousands of prisoners pass through its massive iron gates. As all prisons, it has developed within its walls a spirit of oppression and cruelty.

This is the story of the village of ‘Agnipuri’ (A village of Fire). When I was appointed parish priest in Darsi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, I soon heard of a neighbouring village called Erraobanapalli, which is more than 100 years old.

They arrived: the Girl, her brother and their mother. "Take blankets out for them three", said Sister Lorena. They had all been given out in the morning, but I still looked in the closet and I only found a baby blanket.

A Hungarian folk tale tells the story of the friendship of a young Hungarian, Dani, with a Gypsy of his own age. The godfather of the young Hungarian asks the boy’s parents to explain to him why they allow their son's friendship with the “no-good” Gypsy Lajos.

“Close proximity to the most marginalized” was always the main concern of Fr. Christophe. It was for that reason that his first option was for the urban poor.

I am a journalist by profession, but instead of spending my time writing and editing for a newspaper or a television channel, my days are spent preparing packets of fruit and vegetables, delivering medicines, and helping children do their homework. In other words,

On 29th March 2008 we had harmonised elections in the country, which were reasonably peaceful. The opposition party won the majority but the electoral commission declared that the opposition leader had failed to garner the stipulated majority of “50% plus 1 vote”.

“With my daughter getting older and my brother’s recent death, my family needs me more than ever…I don’t know what to tell my daughter when she asks me if I will be with her? I wish I could tell her not to worry… that I’ll take care of her and that everything will be alright.

I sensed their pain and aspirations in our sharing stories about growing up in our respective ethnic communities. We were at the Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry (JCIM) gathering in September at the Seven Fountains Jesuit Retreat house in Chiangmai, Thailand,

I remember my first visit to the Klong Prem Prison Hospital with Father Olivier in April 2009 (two months before I started full time Prison Ministry that June). We approached each prisoner patient and gave him a few things such as toiletry articles and cookies.