“As I always say: You couldn’t come to see me, so I came to see you,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan told the incarcerated people, staff, and administrators of Woodbourne Correctional Facility during a pastoral visit on Monday, November 25.

Cardinal Dolan celebrated Mass during the pre-Thanksgiving trip to the Sullivan County institution, his latest in a series of stops at prisons in the Archdiocese of New York ahead of major holidays, including Fishkill Correctional Facility, the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island, and Taconic Correctional Facility.

“Jesus tells us to,” Cardinal Dolan explained to The Good Newsroom about why he makes a point of visiting the incarcerated. “Jesus was a prisoner. He was arrested, tried, sentenced, and executed. From a human point of view, it’s just a good thing. Sometimes people make big, fat mistakes and it gets them in trouble,” he said.

The Archbishop of New York celebrated Mass in the gymnasium of the all-male, medium security facility, concelebrated by Father Stanislaus Ogbonna, C.S. Sp., of the Church of St. Peter in Monticello, and was assisted by Deacon John Carr of the Church of Sr. Mary in Kingston, who also serves on the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee.

“Of the many things I do, visiting our correctional facilities is one I treasure most,” Cardinal Dolan told the attendees. “The Holy Eucharist is the greatest prayer of Thanksgiving we have.”

Cardinal Dolan thanked Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and Woodbourne’s Superintendent David Howard for their invitation and for attending the Mass.

“Today you have shown us no matter where we are, God is near, always near us,” said Deputy Superintendent for Programs Danielle Glebocki, in remarks at the end of Mass. “Being valued and loved on our journey of faith includes all of us, no matter our situation,” she said.

After Mass, Cardinal Dolan met with each incarcerated person individually, learning a bit about their circumstances, and presenting each with a prayer card featuring St. Dismas, the “penitent thief,” who said to Jesus, next to whom he was also being crucified, “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 23:32-43)

Cardinal Dolan also greeted each commissioner, superintendent, and member of staff, thanking them for their work and wishing them a happy Thanksgiving.