Wednesday, April 14, 2010

ARCHDIOCESE — Easter’s promise of new life and hope held true for seven inmates at Lebanon Correctional Institution (LeCI) as they were received into the Catholic faith on April 4. Those initiated were Mark Gumm, Neal Harmon, Jeremy Lansing, Larry Stevens, Carl Geddes, Bruce McCune and Jeffrey Whalen.

Father Gene Carmichael blesses an inmate. (CT/Jeff Unroe)

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided at the joyous Easter Mass, held in the LeCI chapel and concelebrated by Jesuit Father Gene Carmichael. Approximately 120 people attended the liturgy, including members of various area parishes and about a dozen family members of the incarcerated men, none of whom had worshipped in the prison chapel before.
 
“It was really great to see the men with their parents and sisters and sons and the people they love so much,” said Christine Shimrock, a prison chaplain.
 
After the two-hour long service, the archbishop was presented with a poster-sized portrait of himself drawn by one of the LeCI inmates and signed by the other men. The archbishop also visited with inmates and posed for pictures.
 
On April 5 at the nearby Warren Correctional Institution, four catechumens — Terry Arnold, Ochoa Ruiz, Ryan Smith and Alfred Martell, were also welcomed into the Catholic Church.