Saint Rita Unites Us in Prayer for Restorative Justice
Mass Incarceration impacts all of us as it perpetuates the root causes of crime. What can we do about it as a community of faith?
Mass Incarceration impacts all of us as it perpetuates the root causes of crime. What can we do about it as a community of faith?
Editors Note: the following reflection was written by someone who has faced incarceration and was originally published in the newsletter Voices from Prison and the Edge, a publication of the Augustinian…
The U.S. incarcerates far more young people than any other developed country. What can we do about it?
by Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A. "What have you come to see?" is the question Jesus poses to the messengers of John the Baptist in Luke 7:24-30. This might be a good…
Prisons are often named “Correctional Facilities” yet have limited capacity to offer “correction” by way of restoration and healing. According to the American Psychological Association, a significant portion of those who…
O Holy Breath of God, breathe on us gathered here, that we may be filled with your Holy Spirit and so become your friends. Oh, help us to live…
As we journey towards Christmas, the Advent season invites us reflect on the hope we have that Christ has come and Christ will come again to free us. Yet, throughout…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA The centurion found in Matthew 8:5-11 was a man who understood the concept of authority. He was someone both subject to the authority of those who…
Editors Note: This poem was written by someone who has faced incarceration. It was originally published in the Voices from Prison and the Edge newsletter (issue no. 34), a publication…
Editors Note: the following reflection was written by someone who faced incarceration and addiction. It was originally published in the newsletter Voices from Prison and the Edge (issue #34), a…
Do we often find ourselves unhappy because we don’t have all the things that we think we should have or that we want to have? Do we find ourselves anxious,…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA When most of us were kids, we likely played scenarios about what we wanted to be when we grew up. Some of us may have played…
Mary, Mother of Captives, give us your compassion for those in prison. Mend in mercy the broken in mind and memory. Soften the hard of heart, the captives of anger.…
One Sunday when I was still in seminary in Chicago, a classmate and I went to Mass. During communion time, we observed a mother approach to receive the Eucharist as she…
Editors Note: This reflection was delivered as part of a Reconciliation Mass at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia highlighting those impacted by systemic poverty and Mass Incarceration.…
What can the Rule of Augustine teach us today about how to build a more just society? Poverty, war, oppression, inequality, mass incarceration, and discrimination are some of the many social…
by Brian Dwyer On this 5th World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis elaborates on Jesus' message in Mark 14:7, "the poor you will always have with you." Pope Francis…
Good Jesus, if only I could, for love of you, give food to all the poor! Lord, if only I could visit every hospital and serve the sick, if only…
Dear Saint Rita, messenger of peace and herald of reconciliation, despite hardship and suffering you lived the Gospel message of compassion and forgiveness and showed the power of love to…
The issue of Mass Incarceration is linked to many other challenges and issues facing our society today. This is especially true when it comes to the issue of systemic poverty.…