Kolbe retreat prompts many prisoners to pursue Catholic faith

By Cindy Kellick

Kolbe Prison Ministries held a retreat at the Winfield Correctional facility on Feb. 28-March 2, the first retreat of its kind in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita. The 48 retreatants and two stewards were welcomed at the door by smiling faces from volunteers who traveled from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas City as well as our own diocese. The purpose of a Kolbe Catholic retreat is to educate those with no knowledge of our faith, as well as re-energize Catholic retreatants to help them become or recommit as Christ’s disciples.

As program coordinator for St. Dismas Ministry to the Incarcerated, the first facility I visited after being trained and badged was WCF, where I encountered the residents’ widespread desire for a weekend retreat.

With the help of Father Clay Kimbro, who serves Mass to the residents of WCF under St. Dismas, as well as the blessing of Bishop Kemme, the Kolbe team started planning for this retreat in September 2024. Every retreat has a director who wears many hats to ensure a retreat’s success. Rheinhold Olson from Dallas was our director and did a fantastic job. Olson once lived in Kansas and has family still in the area.

The retreatants participated in table discussion and received close attention, thanks to a format in which participants sat at tables of six retreatants and three volunteers. The vast amounts of information shared on day one sought to open the minds of those with minimal exposure to our faith.

Seeing a group of retreatants in a prison eating good food is so special. When the first snack, which included items to which retreatants do not have regular access – green and red grapes, tangerines, and mixed nuts – the looks on their faces showed such deep appreciation. It was a blessing to see them indulge in such favorites throughout their weekend retreat.

Day Two
Many residents returned the next day after very little sleep. Day two was filled with the graces and mysteries of our faith, interspersed with time for meaningful discussions as members of the presenting team gave witness talks. Retreatants began a transformation as they recognized their status as children of a God who loves them no matter what they have done. This is easy for prisoners to forget, since incarceration tends to prompt feelings of marginalization and insignificance. The Kolbe team strives to expose the retreatants to kindness, love, and acceptance.

To educate those with little or no knowledge of the Catholic faith is beautiful, especially as they sit and gaze before the Eucharist during adoration. Not a single retreatant whispered a word. No one glanced about, but all eyes remained fixed on the Eucharist. The day’s nonstop activities opened the minds of the retreatants to recognize their need to further explore our Catholic faith.

Fr. Kimbro and Fr. Jim Billinger, as well as Deacon Dan Schletzbaum, and seminarian Koby Nguyen, answered retreatants’ numerous questions. Amid the discussion, Fr. Kimbro responded to a retreatant’s chapter-and-verse bible question by suggesting that many protestants “know the bible like the postman, they know all the addresses in the neighborhood. But Catholics know the Bible like a kid in the neighborhood: They know whose mom has the best snacks. They know where they like to go to play, etc. Catholics know our bible, just not the addresses.”

That day was filled with the Holy Spirit, who continually guided the leaders and helped them find the right words for our new friends. I personally recall being approached by at least eight retreatants who told me they wanted to become Catholic.

At one point that day, however, a different retreatant approached me expressing doubts about what he was hearing. I urged him to remember the request with which I opened the retreat: Have an open mind and heart throughout the process.

Bidding the retreatants a good night and recognizing their eagerness to return the next day was an abundant, fulfilling blessing. Leaders give our time and talent to help during a weekend because we share a passion to bring others to Christ and the fullness of his truth.

Day Three
As the retreatants arrived on day three, they were so happy to see us and could not wait to see what was in store for them. Unlike the night before, most reported sleeping much better than the night before.

This is the day everything comes together as we continue to impart more knowledge of our faith. By this day, retreatants increasingly exhibit trust and love for their table leaders as they discern whether to continue on this journey of Catholicism. The retreatant who approached me the day before wasn’t on board yet, but I watched as he listened intently to the day’s presentations.

I was so excited to be part of this weekend, however I knew we had a bigger problem: Our Catholic call-out meeting space is very small. In fact, the 22 residents, volunteers, and priests pack the room. With other people wanting to be Catholic, that meant that we needed to move. I approached Warden Reames about our dilemma and he told me that he would need to see the list of those who wanted to change their status to Catholic.

At the end of day three, Paula Hecker, a beloved volunteer who visits the incarcerated residents each week showed up. Every resident, even those who did not know her, stood and clapped for this wonderful lady. Residents of the Catholic call-out know how blessed they are that a volunteer would come see them every single week and that is what Paula does.

Harvest of Souls
The weekend culminates in a moment of truth that comes together in the final moments.

After the closing remarks, the signup sheet that was passed around among retreatants for OCIA/Bible study came to me. As I examined it, my heart soared as I counted 19 retreatants who signed up to gain further knowledge about our faith with the hopes of becoming Catholic! Even the retreatant who expressed doubt committed to learning more about our faith.

That weekend allowed the men who already professed the Catholic faith, as well as residents with widely varying beliefs, to taste and see the goodness of Our Lord. Our large group was going to become much larger. As promised, I sent the list to Warden Reames for review.

Mass was held at WCF on March 4, the Tuesday after the retreat, with a total of 36 people in attendance including a volunteer and priest. Because of this, the call-out was moved back into the chapel.

A few days later, I traveled to the facility with bibles and catechisms to hand out to our new friends. There were 38 in attendance, including the retreatant who clearly continues to wrestle with the Catholic faith.

We also saw a few who were raised Catholic, but never made it to a call-out. Thanks to this retreat, they heard from retreatants who attended WCF’s first-ever Kolbe retreat and are looking to embrace their faith again. I also encountered a new friend who mistakenly thought he had come to the protestant call-out but nevertheless stayed to listen and left with a bible and catechism. God is good.

So much work remains to be done and we will need considerable help to ensure the success of our mission. If you have ever considered volunteering for prison ministry or would like to be part of a weekend retreat, please contact me at 316-269-3900, ext. 165 or [email protected] so we can discuss your journey through this wonderful ministry.

Moreover, these retreats are not cheap and donations are greatly needed. I rely on the Knights of Columbus, Altar Societies and food vendors for assistance. Personal donations of any kind are also very welcome. If you experience the appreciation these incarcerated brothers have for those of us who strive to serve and teach them, you would understand and long to join us.

According to Our Lord, these men are among the least of our brethren. Although they have made mistakes, they also are paying the price. Thanks be to our merciful God, he has never forgotten them.
As Jesus tells us in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, “I was in prison and you came to visit me. I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.”

Kellick is program coordinator for the Diocese of Wichita’s St. Dismas Ministry to the Incarcerated.