THOUGHTS FROM FR. JEREMY HIERS O.S.A.

I will never forget my first encounter with someone who was incarcerated. I was just 18 years old when a mother in my parish asked if I would be willing to write her 18-year-old son who had just received a lengthy prison sentence. Making a new friend was just one of the many blessings I gained over the years we corresponded. I also had the opportunity to gain a lot of wisdom as my friend shared his experience of being raised in a poor family, experiencing addiction, prison life, and remorse over his crime. As a young adult, I had a lot to learn from my friend. These lessons became handy, when nearly ten years later I would accompany my own 18-year-old brother through the disease of addiction and incarceration. Everybody has a story to tell. Within each story is a pearl of wisdom thar can benefit others. However, what good is a story if it is not told?

That is why I’m so excited to join Adeodatus. For over ten years under the leadership of its founder, Fr. Paul Morrissey O.S.A., the Adeodatus prison ministry has worked to ensure the stories of those who are impacted by incarceration are shared. Most of the stories have originally come from people Fr. Paul encountered as a chaplain at the Philadelphia prison. With their permission we created this newsletter. Within each story is a discovery for all of us, no matter which side of the prison wall we find ourselves on. We cannot thank Fr. Paul enough for the profound impact his leadership has had on all those who have been touched by the Adeodatus prison ministry over the years. As Fr. Paul transitions to retirement, I could not be more honored to join the team to help ensure those who want to share their story for the good of all our readers continue to have the opportunity to do so.