Words of reflection from Marj Williams, Ottawa County Juvenile Detention Center volunteer

Twenty-five years ago I met a prison-bound young man through our church youth ministry program at the Ottawa County Jail. Shortly after that encounter, I felt called to explore jail ministry. Trudy Stawick held a training session and I was hooked. A few months into my ministry, Trudy and I had a meeting at Ottawa County Juvenile Detention and we explored the possibility of establishing a Catholic presence in detention twice a month. Guidelines were set up and we began a new program with the youth of Ottawa County. About a year later the administrator contacted Trudy again to see if we could expand the program and alternate with the Protestant churches that held Sunday services. And so began Catholic Mass in detention. But a few years into this plan a shortage of priests’ availability caused us to scale back and hold Communion Services instead. Many volunteers have come and gone in these years as this ministry is not for everyone. Some people are tentative about working with teenagers. Early in my ministry I also led a twice monthly communion service with the men at the Ottawa County work camp (long discontinued) but I always preferred to be with the teenagers in detention. I have been in court when a young man was sentenced and no family would attend. I cried with a 15-year-old mother while her three children were living with grandma and her baby was undergoing surgery. Listened to a 14-year-old explain why detention was the safest place for him. Prayed for a young lady that was being sent home to an abusive household. Scolded a young guy for being in detention so many times that I thought he should be paying rent. Received forwarded letters of thanks from youngsters that had figured out their lives and prayed for a young man who was killed in a gang fight not long after he was released from detention. So, over the years there are some sad memories and yet many, many more happy ones. There has been so much joy along with the abundant blessings I received just being in the presence of these young seekers. Some are only there one time and some come back many times for many reasons. But the Sunday services and/or Tuesday night discussions affirmed the need for a Catholic presence no matter what denomination the teens may be affiliated with. We need to reach out to other potential volunteers and keep this wonderful ministry going forward. Many young people in the detention system in our counties are truly looking for faith filled people to give of their time answering questions. They just need someone to care and share Christ with them.