In what has become an Ash Wednesday tradition, Cardinal Timothy Dolan visited a New York State correctional facility to offer Mass and ashes to staff and incarcerated individuals.

 

“You couldn’t come to see me, so I came to see you,” Cardinal Dolan said in opening remarks to the approximately 150 people in attendance at Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, a medium-security, all-female institution.

 

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan reminded the attendees of two famous prisoners from the New Testament: St. Dismas, and Jesus himself.

 

“Dismas, the good thief, is the only person in the Bible who addresses Jesus by his name,” Cardinal Dolan said. Crucified together with Jesus, Dismas is mentioned in Luke 23, although not by name, as saying, “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise'” [Luke 23: 42-43].

 

Cardinal Dolan also talked about Jesus’s time as a prisoner. “Jesus was arrested, falsely accused, and put to death,” he said, reminding the incarcerated that Jesus understands their situation and hears their prayers.

 

At the end of Mass, an incarcerated person presented Cardinal Dolan with a drawing of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that she had drawn for the Cardinal’s visit. 

 

After Mass, Cardinal Dolan visited with each of the incarcerated, talking with them and presenting them prayer cards printed for the occasion.

 

Concelebrants of the Mass included Father Mark Vaillancourt. Cardinal Dolan was assisted by Deacon Clifford Callani, the prison chaplain, who helped to coordinate the visit.

 

In 2023, Cardinal Dolan visited Fishkill Correctional Facility on Ash Wednesday, similarly to say Mass and distribute ashes.