Cardinal Dolan has visited the incarcerated and corrections staff regularly, usually close to holidays, including Thanksgiving and during Lent.

Approximately 60 male and female inmates and about 40 administrators and staff members attended the Mass. Westchester County Deputy Executive Ken Jenkins, Department of Corrections (WCDOC) Commissioner Joseph K. Spano, First Deputy Commissioner Noraima Padima, and evangelical Chaplain Vickie Mills were among those in attendance.

“It’s always extremely meaningful for our staff and for the men and women in our care and especially at this time of year,” Commissioner Spano said of Cardinal Dolan’s visit, in remarks before the beginning of Mass. “We certainly understand the importance of having religion in your lives, not just while you are here but later in your lives,” he said, addressing the incarcerated in attendance.

“The faith-based component of life, we want to continue to have that as part of what we do,” said Deputy Executive Jenkins, who attended the Mass and visit on behalf of County Executive George Lattimore.

The WCDOC, in the Grassland Campus in Valhalla, houses individuals 16 years and older, including men accused of a crime or awaiting sentencing and women accused of a crime, awaiting sentencing or sentenced to terms of a year or less. It also houses men sentenced to terms of one year or less, according to the department’s website.

Cardinal Dolan set a lighthearted tone for the visit. “I love coming here…and I love leaving,” he said at the start of Mass, to laughter from all in attendance.

He returned to that theme at the beginning of his homily. “No one comes late, and no one leaves early,” Cardinal Dolan said of Masses in correctional facilities.

“I came to be with you. The commissioner is correct: Our faith is so important to us,” Cardinal Dolan said.

He called attention to a phrase in the morning’s reading, Luke 1: 12-13: “Be not afraid.” “It is the most repeated three worst in the Bible. Three hundred and sixty-five times it is used,” Cardinal Dolan said, once for each day of the year. He reminded the people who have found themselves imprisoned, “You need to hear that angel say, ‘Be not afraid. I am here.’”

As is his custom, after Mass, Cardinal Dolan met each incarcerated individual personally and presented each one with a prayer card featuring St. Dismas, known as “the good thief,” who was crucified next to Jesus. He also took time to greet each member of the corrections staff in attendance.