Fort Ann

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger switched seamlessly between Spanish and English during a special Christmas Mass for Hispanic, black and white inmates Friday at Great Meadow Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Washington County.

It's a 90-minute drive north of Albany and is part of the 14-county Albany Roman Catholic Diocese.

"It's easy to feel lonely and separated this time of year, like you're not worthy of forgiveness," he told 28 prisoners in drab green prison garb. The windows in the chapel were sheathed in wire and a few were pocked with what appeared to be pellet or gunshot holes.

The chapel walls were lined with ceramic Stations of the Cross and the bishop singled out one that depicted Jesus being crucified on a cross. He mentioned that Jesus was crucified between two criminals and that outwardly, at least, they looked alike.

"Whatever our sin is, we can accept Jesus into our hearts like never before," the bishop said. "If we accept the love and pardon of Jesus, every day can be Christmas."

Several of the inmates bowed their heads and wiped back tears.

Christmas music played over a boom box, including "O Come All Ye Faithful" for the processional. The liturgy seemed to strike something deep inside these hardened criminals. They recited the Lord's Prayer and offered antiphonal responses reflexively, as if they had attended a lifetime of Masses. How many of the men, convicted of assault and rape and murder, had been altar boys or sung in church choirs before their choices and actions sent them on a different trajectory?

"We're very thankful that the bishop comes to spend time with us and to celebrate Christmas Mass here," said prisoner Christopher Shapard, who serves as a Eucharistic minister and teaches catechism after he was confirmed by Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard at Great Meadow 16 years ago. He's 43 and began serving a 15 years to life sentence in 1992 for burglary, robbery, kidnapping and criminal use of a firearm.

"It's a beautiful thing to have the bishop here with me and my brothers, who are like my family," said prisoner Kenneth Paulman. He's 33 and began serving a 16 to 19 year sentence in 2002 on sexual abuse, sodomy and rape charges.

This is the second year that Scharfenberger has come to say Mass for prisoners at Great Meadow, built in 1911, which resembles a fortress with its high walls of yellow brick and turreted ramparts.

"It's a corporal work of mercy," Scharfenberger said as he donned vestments before the service, concelebrated with two priests and two deacons. "The message of Christmas is that God wants to be with us at our lowest point. Offering Mass helps them feel connected to their faith and reminds them that they're not alone. Everyone deserves God's mercy."

"These are my parishioners, too," said the Rev. Rendell Torres, a pastor who covers parishes in nearby Fort Ann and Whitehall. "God offers forgiveness to everybody at Christmas."

"I felt a need to be more in touch with people on the margins," said the Rev. Dennis Tamburello, a Franciscan friar and professor of religious studies at Siena College He makes monthly visits to Great Meadow as a part-time chaplain. "My hope is that when they come into the chapel they feel free, even if they are technically still incarcerated."

"It was a beautiful service. Very moving," said prisoner Alonzo Johnson. He's 54 years old and began serving a 25 to life sentence in 2000 for murder.

"This was an honor to have our bishop and the leader of our diocese take time out of his busy schedule to be with us," said Deacon Miguel Fabian, a full-time chaplain at Great Meadow.

"This is outstanding for our inmates," said Chris Miller, superintendent of Great Meadow. "It's something they look forward to because it brightens their holiday."

About 300 of the 1,550 inmates were not eligible to attend the service because they were in disciplinary confinement for fighting or violating prison rules and about half of that number were in special confinement because of severe mental illness or behavioral health problems, Miller said.

The inmates were also looking forward to a once-a-year treat, a Christmas Eve meal that they can take back to their cells. This year's spread, purchased with money raised by a prison liaison committee, included a 12-inch three-meat submarine sandwich, two large bags of potato chips, a Honey Bun cake and two bottles of soda.

The Friday liturgy cut both ways. Prisoners and priests alike said they took away something valuable, a timely reminder of the redemption that Christmas offers.

"I've been coming here for nine years and I still wonder what I bring to the job," said Deacon Bob Wubbenhorst, a volunteer at Great Meadow. "What I get out of it is a better understanding of myself."

pgrondahl@timesunion.com • 518-454-5623 • @PaulGrondahl