After prayerful discernment, Josephite Sister Liz Koziol was overcome by a sense of peace as she accepted the offer to lead prison ministry in Perth Archdiocese. Source: The eRecord.
Since assuming this role on October 26, Sr Liz’s feels prison ministry is where she is meant to be.
“In my Novitiate days, I was able to visit Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney. This was a transforming experience, as while I believed in the equality of humanity, I was challenged to acknowledge this at the time,” Sr Liz said.
“It was in listening to the stories of the men that I could see parallels in our life stories. What keeps me going is the belief that all human beings, no matter who they are, can walk the paths of these residents.
“In visiting these poor and broken ‘fringe dwellers’ of society I find myself seeing Jesus as he began his journey to the cross.”
Sr Liz said she prays that prison ministry will work “gently and compassionately to transform lives and help those who find themselves on the ‘inside’ to make better choices”.
Her ministry is inspired by Sister of Saint Joseph co-founder St Mary MacKillop.
“I feel called to live out [St Mary MacKillop’s] humility in acting justly, loving tenderly and walking humbly knowing that her compassion for the underprivileged is ever present.
“I pray to leave ‘me’ at home so I can be available to staff and residents as they require with a pair of ears to listen and a heart that brings a face of God to those I meet.”
FULL STORY
Prison Ministry: Meeting Jesus in the ‘fringe dwellers’ of society (By Amanda Murthy, The eRecord)
