ROVE Central Correctional Centre (RCCC) inmates celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ behind the bars, in their very own chapel known as St Paul’s Chapel.
As part of Christian traditions, Rove Inmates joined the global community to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday despite being locked behind the bars.
While serving their incarceration behind bars, inmates were allowed to leave their cells for communal service. The tradition depicts the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection from the tomb. They gathered for praying, sharing the Lord’s supper, and singing hymns to express their love and faith in Jesus Christ, alleluia he is risen indeed.
The people living there have been rejected by society, they often have nothing and no one that could give them purpose and meaning, they are left alone with their guilt, worries, and fears they have to cope in the tough world of prison. To survive, they need daily encouragement. Even people who had no connection to the church find support in religion; the church has something to offer them from its great treasure of faith.
God comes into our midst in this forsaken world. Behind the bars, in the offering of bread and wine, Christ who gives himself for us is present. Christ suffered and died on the cross. Experienced abandonment. Would that be a failure? Perhaps, but that sacrifice brought us redemption. That gives hope, that gives meaning. Easter speaks about how human existence is more because man is loved by God.
There’s nothing much they can do in the Correctional Centres, just because of crime committed, sin, and attitude problems, it doesn’t mean they are exempted from the celebration to mark Christ’s victory and hope for humanity. Wherever we are, Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross.
During the service, inmates were encouraged to reflect and embrace the death and resurrection of our one and only Saviour Jesus Christ, regardless of our status, we all are experiencing challenges and difficulties in life. Therefore, let the Easter message of resurrection and triumph, give us hope, renewal, and newness in life.
A traditional welcome has been mounted by inmates as they escort the CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and RCCC Management to St Paul’s Chapel to commemorate the resurrection of our Lord in a communal service, led by CSSI Chaplain Fr Reginald Tohutohuniu.
Supervising RCCC Commandant Lawrence Make sincerely acknowledges the Commissioner for accepting the invitation to participate and witness the celebration of the risen Lord and savior with the inmates.
SOURCE: CSSI PRESS
Feature Photo Caption : Inmates receive Holy Communion in St. Paul’s Chapel
