Sacraments point prisoner in ‘better direction’
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
LANCASTER — The graces of Seth Dochter’s confirmation day at SCI-Chester began to unfold four hours before he received the sacrament, when he learned he was going to be paroled.
“Both were things that I had been working toward for quite a few months, so I was very excited,” said Dochter, who is 24 years old and currently residing with his grandmother in the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Dochter, who was serving time for robbery and burglary, learned of his impending parole at 9:15 a.m.on May 22. At 1:30 p.m. that same day, Auxiliary Bishop Robert P. Maginnis confirmed him and three of his fellow inmates.
He said he felt a calmness come over him during confirmation as Bishop Maginnis anointed his forehead with holy Chrism.
Although Dochter grew up attending Protestant services, he began attending Catholic liturgies in 2005 during his incarceration at SCI-Forest, a state correctional institution near Erie, Pa.
“When I started going to Catholic services in the prison system, it felt right,” he said.
Dochter, who describes prison as “a very lonely place,” said that attending Mass curbed the negativity he had been feeling.
“Before I was incarcerated, I was using drugs and drinking heavily, and glorifying those things,” he said.
During the Palm Sunday Mass of 2006, Dochter discovered “a sense of peace” that was particularly profound and once he was transferred to SCI-Chester in May 2007, he continued to attend Mass on a regular basis.
The homilies delivered by the permanent deacon and Augustinian priests who served there were consistently “on point,” Dochter said. “Every week, it could be applied to some aspect of my life.”
His appreciation for the Mass prompted Dochter to enroll in RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes at SCI-Chester last fall. His instructor was Deacon Michael Finn, a permanent deacon of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester who is an assistant chaplain at the correctional institution.
This past Easter, Dochter was baptized and received the sacraments of reconciliation and first holy Communion.
“Having been in prison…you can see that pretty much anyone is capable of sinning and doing bad things. It’s nice that we can be forgiven,” he said.
Dochter was granted 11-and-a-half years of parole, which started June 30. Upon successful completion, he said he will be “on with life.”
In the meantime, he’s enjoying life as he is experiencing it now. “My brother and sister are making fun of me, because I’m so easily amused,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s very nice to be out. I feel that it’s a new chapter. I’m in a better direction now, and trying to stay the course.”
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.
St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester sponsors a prison ministry fund for inmates of SCI-Chester.
The money is earmarked for clothing and other necessities for inmates upon their release.
To contribute to the fund, remit a check payable to St. Katharine Drexel Parish and send to Father Joseph C. McLoone, pastor, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 1920 Providence Ave., Chester, PA 19013.
For more information, contact Father McLoone at (610) 872-3731.
French administrator visits Philadelphia corrections system
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA – Patrick Mounaud, a regional director of correctional services in Lyon, France, visited the Philadelphia Prison System in late June.
“The Catholic Church is very present in this country,” Mounaud, who is Catholic, said of the Church’s outreach to those who are incarcerated.
During his June 23-24 visit to the prison system on State Road, Mounaud met prison officials and inmates and attended a Mass for inmates. “They’ve got a good team,” he said. “The staff is very attentive, very conscientious.”
Among the prison officials Mounaud met were Louis Giorla, commissioner of the Philadelphia Prison System; Vincentian Father Gregory Cozzubbo, chaplain of the archdiocesan Prison Ministry Program; Laura Ford, coordinator of the Prison Ministry Program and Augustinian Father Paul F. Morrissey, a part-time prison chaplain.
In his correctional services work in the central eastern sector of France, Mounaud has oversight of 20 prisons, which house a total of 5,500 inmates, and 12 probation services which serve 15,000 people.
After a year abroad, studying at the University of Montreal, presenting conferences on criminology and observing the prison system in Canada, Mounaud returns to France late this summer.
He recently authored a book comparing correctional services in Canada and France. The book, which does not yet have a market title, is scheduled for release in the fall. His previous book, “Carnets de Prisons,” contains pictures of prisons by a watercolor painter.
Mounaud’s visit was facilitated through Father Morrissey. Mounaud is a friend of Father Morrissey’s sister and her family in Montreal.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.