Chaplain, bishop celebrate last Masses in 166-year-old penitentiary

Published: 2004-08-27

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNS) -- One hundred sixty-six years after a Flemish Jesuit missionary reportedly celebrated the first Mass at the old Missouri State Penitentiary, another priest assured the Catholic community in the crumbling facility that the faith of their fathers would follow them to their new home. "Father (Ferdinand ) Helias was the one who had the very first Mass in this institution shortly after it opened up," said Father Joseph S. Corel, Catholic chaplain at the penitentiary, at the beginning of the Aug. 6 Mass in the prison's All Faiths Chapel. "From that time until today, there has been Catholic Mass offered here," he said. "And I guarantee you, when we go to the new institution, Catholic Mass will continue. Because there are Catholics, and where there are Catholics, there is Mass." Jefferson City Bishop John R. Gaydos presided Aug. 14 at what well might be the last Mass in All Faiths Chapel. Father Corel concelebrated. The bishop thanked the penitentiary residents for inviting him for Mass, and prayed for all who had been incarcerated at the prison, all who had come to Christ while living there, and the slaves and incarcerated men who had been forced to build the complex many years ago.

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