“Stay strong in the faith you’ve found”

Mass with the St. Dismas Community inside the McConnell Unit – a long-term correctional facility in Beeville – is always an exceptional experience. A Sunday Mass on a Monday, with choir, instruments, lectors, and altar servers—all participating wholeheartedly in the celebration. Bishop Mulvey recently visited the unit to hear confessions and celebrate Mass alongside Fr. Richard Gutierrez, the prison chaplain, Fr. Thomas Swierc, and Fr. Luis Lozano. 
 
In his homily, referring to the Gospel passage, “No servant can serve two masters…. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Lk 16:13), he urged the men to stay strong in the faith they had found in prison.  
 
Several volunteers assisting with prison ministry attended this Mass and, along with the prisoners, offered a special thank you to Bishop Mulvey: “You have done a lot for us,” said Deacon Roger Rosenbaum. They presented the bishop with one of the red Baseball Shirts they wear as staff of the Kolbe Prison Retreats—bearing his name and the number 15, marking the years he has served as bishop of our diocese. They celebrated together with a cake, and many prisoners expressed their gratitude for Bishop Mulvey’s frequent visits.