Prison Ministries

by: Fr. Thomas Hillenbrand, OSB

 I am Fr. Thomas Andrew Hillenbrand, a monk of Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska. I came to this monastery in 2013 after our monastery in South Dakota closed due to lack of personnel. That monastery was called Blue Cloud Abbey and has now been taken over by 6 couples who want to continue our work there and keep the monastery open as a retreat center, house of hospitality for travelers, and above all a spiritual oasis for people wanting quiet, prayer and a deeper union with God. The monastery is now called Abbey of the Hills, and it is located in the Northeastern part of South Dakota. I was there for over 50 years as a monk and a priest. I chose Christ the King monastery as my new home because it is still in the prairies. I love the prairies and the people of the prairies who are hard-working, down to earth honest people. What you see is what you get. Here I do retreats, both directed and preached, lots of spiritual direction, some parish work, and outside work in the garden and our flowerbeds

I got into the prison ministry through a very persistent woman in Columbus, Nebraska who has been in this ministry for many, many years. She convinced me to come and visit the inmates at the detention center in Columbus. That was about 3 years ago. Now, every Tuesday afternoon I go to the Platte County Detention Center and visit with any inmates who want to talk with a priest in a one on one session. This type of setting allows the inmate to share with me whatever he or she wants to talk about..
Often times it is their personal struggles with being in jail, or marriage ad family issues they are dealing with. Often they are in jail because of drugs, either selling or using them. They are dealing with their own addiction and/or addictions. The ones who come and visit with me know they have to deal with their addictions once they get out. I always encourage them to get off the “playground” they were on, get with others who are clean, attend either AA or NA meetings, and think about getting associated with a church.

I do think my weekly visits help, especially because they can vent whatever is going on inside of them and know that this is kept confidential. Those who are Catholic usually want to go to confession, and they do make very good and open confessions. I also bring Holy Communion to those who wish to receive. I find this work very rewarding. It gives me a chance to visit with these people who are often hurting, confused, and angry. Often they just need someone who will listen to them and not judge or criticize their present state in life. It really is a blessing for me to be there for them and to know that is what Jesus tells all of us to do in some way or other - to visit the sick, heal the wounded, feed the hungry and visit the imprisoned. So when I visit with these men and women I really do meet Christ, and hopefully, they meet Christ in me as well.

In the pictures you see, Paulette Paprocki and myself are bringing Easter cards to be given to each inmate, and we are shown signing their names on the envelopes. On the inside is a short Easter message along with the card and we both sign our names on them.

We also do the same thing at Christmas time and each inmate receives a new T-shirt as a small Christmas gift. They really do appreciate their new T-shirt. Small things can mean a lot to an inmate who may get very little from his family or friends.