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Alejandra Santidrián, Tarija, Bolivia |
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An Interview with Sr Ronnie Rafferty, OP
Every day Alejandra leaves her house at three o'clock and takes two
buses to go to the other side of the city in order to visit the prison
called La Penal de los Moros Blancos.
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The prison is built on a height with a marvellous view of the mountains.
Alejandra began prison ministry very soon after coming to Tarija over six years ago, and became a member of a small team of three people. In time the team grew and it is now part of the national prison network.
The main thrust of the ministry is accompanying and supporting the prisoner. In practice this leads a person into many different tasks and situations, such as, when a mutiny takes place, When this happens, team members mediate between prisoners and officers. Some prisoners are taught how to administer medicines given to them, and others are shown how to fix teeth! The prison regime includes a medical, a psychological and dentistry service. For many of the prisoners, these services indicate a very high standard of living. In addition, those who learn to read and write feel that they are lucky.
On Sundays all take part in a liturgical celebration in the chapel, and take time to converse in a circle there. Both prisoners and team have helped to bring this about.
The day when I went with her, Alejandra warmly greeted both police and prisoners. She visited a group learning how to use the computer in a corner of the chapel alongside a library called La Biblioteca Alas del Alma. The chapel furniture is so arranged as to create an escape from the atmosphere where the prisoners live: there is a tiny garden cared for by Saint Martin de Porres; a catechetical corner and an altar to Our Lady of Ransom. The other half has recyclable rubbish and is the corner where creative people can develop their gifts. There is a typewriter which gives prisoners the opportunity to write out their own papers, their requests etc.
We go into the enclosed part where there are the cells. Alejandra greets by name three men who are doing woodwork in the patio, three Argentines recently sentenced to thirty years of prison.
Then we go out again towards the women's section which is like a barrio with its tiny houses. One woman is bathing her child. Women wash clothes, cook in order to maintain themselves. At times they are sexually exploited by police and prisoners.
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In the prison chapel
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With the pastoral team
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With the doctor in the Health
Centre at the prison
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Zulma is co-ordinator of the prison ministry
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When prisoners leave, Alejandra still keeps in touch. One day Siro came to the Sisters' house. He now comes often. He is an ex-prisoner who has conditional leave, because of Alejandra's personal influence. He is a young lad who has lived all his life on the street, as his mother was very poor. From childhood, he was a “donkey”, that is, he sold drugs. He became an addict in prison. After leaving prison, he came to a home run by a priest, but preferred to live on his own. Because of his love for his younger brothers and sisters, he is deciding to change his way of life. He realises that the five years spent in prison changed him for the worse. He is finding friends in the pastoral team. He was thrilled when he was appointed sacristan in the chapel
The team supports many prisoners who are like Siro.
The biblical text inspiring this ministry is “I was a prisoner and you visited me.”
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