Prison Chaplaincy team visits Archbishop Pizzaballa

Nine members of the team, led by Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar, paid a pre-Christmas visit to Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. After introducing themselves to the Archbishop, they explained the nature of their work. Members of the team regularly visit five Israeli prisons in order to bring spiritual comfort to the Catholic prisoners. In addition, the team maintains contact with the asylum seekers who are incarcerated in the Holot Detention Center in the Negev Desert. The team is in contact with about 100 prisoners and serves them through liturgical services (mass twice a year, Christmas and Easter), prayer and Bible reflection, confession as well as helping the prisoners stay in contact with their families and communities.

Mr. Kirill Kozlovsky, the coordinator of the team, also explained to the Archbishop the state of relations with the Prison Rabbinate and the individual rabbis, pointing to a marked improvement in the past years.

The Archbishop asked many questions in order to understand better the work of the team and how the Church can come to the aid of these brothers and sisters. At the end of the meeting, he gave his blessing to the members of the team.