Father Raymond A. Beane walks around the federal penitentiary here with the proud eyes of a man content with his work. He is the Catholic chaplain there and has been for six years.

In an interview with The Bulletin he directed a tour of the facility incarcerating some 2,300 men convicted of breaking federal statutes.

As he walked through the building pointing out this and that outstanding feature, he was greeted by the convicts going about their daily tasks, ranging from working in a spinning room to mopping floors. He was greeted by many friendly smiles and voices that said, “Hello Father, How are you Father, Good to see you.” The men were murderers, thieves and confident men, but the only way you could tell was by their uniforms and their residency.

But Father Beane knew them and he knows their crimes. About 400 of them are his parishioners. He said, “It’s unusual but they come to church just about by the same percentage of people in a parish on the outside.”

Father Beane volunteered for this work. He had served as a chaplain in the Navy and had taught college. He was on his way back to the states from Japan and decided he did not want to teach school again. He heard the job at the penitentiary was open, applied for it, and got it.

Aside from the 400 parishioners he has about 20 men under instruction at all times.

He said, “The majority of them have never known a real need for religion. It was not taught them in the home. That makes for a difficult task - to take a man at middle-age and make him realize a need for religion.”

Father Beane says a 9:30 a.m., Sunday Mass and Mass daily at 11:30 a.m.

Some of the parishioners are members of the Holy Name Society at the prison. The society members have undertaken sponsorship of a boy and girl abroad under the Foster Parent Plan, Inc., providing a girl in Hong Kong and a boy in Italy with food and clothing and other of life’s necessities.

Father Beane said, “The big job here of the chaplain is that he is the one interested in the religious side of rehabilitation - the moral and the spiritual. You must understand and everyone should understand that without this, the man being rehabilitated doesn’t stand much of a chance when he gets out of prison.”

The chaplain cited an example. He said, “I recall one fellow who came here from Alcatraz. He was a man who had served about half of a 25-year sentence for robbery. He was paroled about five years ago. He had been a Catholic but was never serious about his religion until he was sent to Alcatraz.”

“This man was about 40 years old. His attitude was that he was completely sold on the religious aspect. He couldn’t make a go of it outside without religion and he realized it.” “When he did realize it, he did a complete about face. Now he is making good outside. He is an example of a person who got religion in prison and through it straightened out his affairs and his life.”

Father Beane is not any weak sister in his dealing with his parishioners, or anybody else for that matter. He is rather gruff at times. It is an attitude which leaves no doubt in the minds of those dealing with him, that he is strictly business and there is no room for insincerity. From what this reporter saw at the prison it is an attitude which seems to have gained him a heavy respect from Catholics and Protestants alike.

The priest can also be considerate, where it appears necessary. During the interview a chaplain’s office worker, a convict who is nearing parole interjected some of his own comments into the interview and reached a point of argumentation with the priest. Father Beane fielded the man’s argument with the same dignity he used with his interviewer allowing the convict to make his comments.

When asked does he sometimes find himself admiring the talents of the criminals in his charge, he said, “Why yes. Some are highly intelligent.” He added, “But this in no way causes me to lose sight of the fact that I must help them through the teachings of Christ to turn their talents into work which will benefit society.”