The Dismas promise

By Sr. Elaine MacInnes, O.L.M.
May/June 2010

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Sr. Elaine MacInnes and Timothy at a Dismas Fellowship Gathering. Walmer Road Baptist Church, Toronto.

After going into prisons to teach meditation for about 30 years, I suppose it was inevitable that someday I would “graduate” into working with ex-prisoners as well.

It all began last fall when a mutual friend, Jerry McCullough, introduced me to Rev. Harry Nigh, a Mennonite pastor in Mississauga, and Eusebia da Silva, a community chaplain for Corrections Canada. Rooted in Christian principles, these two wonderful people decided to bring together both ex-prisoners and volunteers for a bi-monthly one-on-one interaction of feasting, praying, sharing, singing, dancing, and general good will and good fun.

All these healing and helpful activities are in full gear every time I go to the Walmer Road Baptist Church Hall to participate. The men and women who are on parole, either living in a hostel or fully released in private quarters, all agree that Friday is the loneliest day of the week for them, so that day was chosen as our time for socializing. Many are the men and women who enjoy these evenings. The food is great, always with a home-baked flavour that everyone prizes. Deacon Michael Walsh leads the fun part with all his heart and soul. His fellow deacon, Bill Radigan, helps as well and kindly chauffeurs me and a couple of the ex-prisoners to and from the church. The group is called “The Dismas Fellowship”. Dismas is the name traditionally given to the good thief on Mount Calvary that first Good Friday. As Christ promised the first Dismas, we too are on our Way with him.

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