On the 24th of April 2026, I walked through the gates of Colvale Central Jail with two Diocesan priests, my fellow sisters, formees, Caritas staff and lay members of Union of the Catholic Apostolate, with a heart full of quiet anticipation. As a Pallottine Sister I always used to marvel at the way our Founder St.Vincent Pallotti had a deep concern and love for the prisoners and how his heart moved towards them in compassion, love and empathy. But today as I gazed at the building of the Colvale Jail the admiration of our Founder’s love and encouragement for prisoners took a deeper meaning in my life.
The moment we entered, the reality of prison life surrounded us. The security procedures were strict. Every step carefully monitored and every belonging checked. In silence, I reminded myself we are entering not just a place, but the lives of people who carry unseen burdens and a spark of hope within them. When we finally reached the visiting hall, the inmates began to arrive one by one. I found myself looking into their faces that spoke more than words ever could. Some held sorrow, some seemed lost in thought, and a few carried a quiet longing, perhaps for freedom, perhaps simply for kindness and a deep longing to get back home.
In that moment, I felt a gentle stirring within me. These are not just prisoners, I thought. They are women, each with a story, each with pain, each still deeply loved by God. The visit and conversations began with as I am stood among them united in our shared humanity. As the prayer continued, I felt like the prayer was not elaborate, yet it carried hope, and I could sense a stillness settle in the room. Soon, our formees offered a prayer dance based on the words of St.Vincent Pallotti, “Nothing but God, God alone.” It was beautiful in its simplicity, but what moved me most was not the performance—it was the response. I noticed eyes softening, expressions changing. Something within the room began to shift. I began with a short message to lift their hearts, I said God loves each one of us unconditionally, no matter where we are and what we are. “He has carved your names on His hand and no one in this world has written your names on their palms except God. This situation will pass away soon; we need to keep moving forward. God has a plan for you and God has sent you in this world with a mission and you have to accomplish it with your unique nature and presence.” I could see the faces brightening. I also expressed that God loves you so much that today He sent us to spend this time with you and to tell you how precious you are to Him. If it was not Him, we would have never met each other on this sacred ground.
Then came the music. At first, there was hesitation. But gradually, smiles appeared. Hands began to clap. And before long, the very women who had entered with heavy hearts were singing and even dancing with us. I stood there, watching in quiet awe. Joy and hope had found its way into a place that seemed so unlikely.
One of the most touching moments for me was when we invited them to share. A few women stepped forward, their voices trembling at first, said one “I am learning many things in my life here.” Then some growing stronger as they sang in their own languages. It was as if, for a brief moment, they reclaimed a part of themselves that had been hidden behind walls and routines. We played a few simple games, and laughter filled the room. It is pure and unrestrained laughter. It echoed in my heart. Some shed tears when they heard about God. I remember thinking, how little it takes to make someone feel alive again.
Before leaving, we had a final prayer which was felt heavier this time, not with sadness, but with a deep awareness of the lives before me. I reminded myself that no wall is strong enough to separate us from God’s love. Then came words I will never forget. One of the inmates, speaking on behalf of the others, said softly thank you for coming here and making us feel special. We felt loved, accepted and cared. For some time, we forgot our stress and sadness. Thank you for loving us. Please pray for us that we may get home as early as possible.
I carried those words with me as we walked out of the prison gates. That day, I went thinking I would bring comfort. But I returned transformed and convinced of the power the Resurrection of the Risen Lord working in our lives. I saw Christ in their faces, in their pain, in their courage, and in their longing to be seen. And I understood, more deeply than ever before, that our mission is not only to serve, but to encounter and give hope and at this moment our Charism became alive to me. Even behind bars, hope lives, and sometimes, all it needs is someone to walk in and awaken it.
I thank God for the great legacy of our Founder St.Vincent Pallotti who left an example for us and inspired us to love the inmates in the prison. Grateful to God for this gift in granting me this experience and for teaching me to uphold the dignity of every person without bias. As Pope Francis highlights in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, “Every person, especially those who are marginalized, imprisoned, or forgotten, must be treated with respect, compassion, and love, because their dignity comes from God and can never be taken away.”
Text: Sr. Inacinha Fernandes, SAC
Photo: courtesy of the team