Thursday, January 8, 2009

Jesuits And Jailbirds

About 1,800 inmates from a section of Tihar Central Jail joined seminarians from Jesuit-run Vidyajyoti College of Theology in New Delhi for the Dec. 5 program of carol-singing, skits and dancing. The prisoners shared sweets with jail officials and the visitors, and some even joined impromptu dances to popular songs while others joyously whistled and yelled.

The seminarians and some prisoners also performed a comedy skit that tried to convey a message of hope, peace and a better life.

Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi joined the seminarians and offered his own special message, telling the inmates that God does not forget prisoners.

"Whatever He does in our lives is for our own good," the archbishop told the gathering. "It is all part of his plan for us. It is our task to reflect and set ourselves on a new lease of life that is promised for us."

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