CHARLESTON—Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone spent some time in prison on Christmas Eve.
The bishop celebrated Mass for the men imprisoned at Federal Correctional Institute Williamsburg in Salters at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 24.
This is the second year the bishop has had a Christmas liturgy for prisoners. Last year he went to Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville.
Visiting the imprisoned is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 25. These are acts of charity directed toward the physical needs of our neighbor.
“As bishop, it is my privilege to care for all Christ’s sheep, especially those in most need of His mercy,” Bishop Guglielmone said. “It is an important and humbling work to visit those in prison who are too often forgotten by us, but not by God. The church has long taught that one of the works of mercy is to visit the imprisoned. I have pledged that each Christmas and each Easter, I will celebrate Mass in one of the correctional institutions in South Carolina. Last year, it was a blessing for me to do so, and I again look forward to my visits in the future.”