Volunteers bring the message of Christ love and mercy

Volunteers bring Christ’s love, and mercy to 25 of our sisters in Christ incarcerated at the Nueces County Jail on Dec. 15 and our brothers at the Nueces County McKinzie Jail Annex on Dec. 19.

At both facilities, Father Darryl D’Souza, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Corpus Christi, offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation to Catholics wanting to receive Communion. At the Nueces County McKinzie Jail Annex, he was joined by Father Sam Medley from Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity as they both offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation to 10 of the men. 

Before each Mass, Deacon Santos Jones III from St. Joseph Parish in Beeville delivered a Christmas message and held a question-and-answer session for those wanting to know more about the Catholic faith.

Pedro Costilla, a jail and prison ministry volunteer for 40 years, helped the lectors with the readings at the Jail and Edward Cantu, a parishioner from Most Precious Blood and a jail/prison volunteer for 8 years helped out with the Mass at the Annex. Cantu serves weekly at the Annex.

Mass was very moving to many of the men in attendance as they asked for prayers for their families, especially their moms. Some were moved to tears while praying and singing. Today’s service would not have been possible without the assistance of the staff at the jails, so we appreciate their help for the day’s service.  

Orlando Zepeda, music minister and volunteer from St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville, provided Christmas music for both Masses and sang “Feliz Navidad” after Mass had ended. 

Director Jaime Reyna from the Office of Social Ministry and Deacon Roger Rosenbaum coordinated with the Jail and Annex to bring the light of Christ to the prisoners. 

If you are interested in volunteering in our jails or prison facilities, contact Heath Garcia from the Office of Social Ministry at (361) 882-6191, ext. 687 or email at [email protected]. 

For more information on prison ministry, go to diocesecc.org/prisonministry.