This is the second half of an interview with Father George Williams, the Catholic Chaplain for San Quentin.
Would you share your view of the various faiths represented here at San Quentin?
One of my ancestors was a Puritan pastor named Roger Williams.
He left the narrow and intolerant Puritan church in Boston (well, he was sort of kicked out of it) and moved to what is now Rhode Island (he founded the city of Providence) and created a place that welcomed people from other religious denominations and faiths.
He was way ahead of his time – Providence offered to provide sanctuary to Jews and Quakers, even Catholics, while back in Massachusetts they were hanging people for witchcraft in Salem. (Another one of my ancestors was accused of witchcraft but was found not guilty!)
Anyway, Roger Williams was a tolerant man with an open mind. I either inherited those genes or I am just inspired to follow his example in my life. I have always been interested in how other people view God – and I believe there is good and truth in every faith tradition.
I believe Jesus Christ is the savior of the world – but God can save people through him without necessarily adopting Christianity – in other words, God’s mercy extends to all people who live and follow their faith tradition with devotion. So for me, it’s not about needing to convert people to Catholicism, even though I think there is great beauty and wisdom in my faith tradition.
For me, it is more important to help men here come to know God as they understand God – and to deepen their spiritual connection with the Divine. I believe that God draws all of us closer to him and to the truth as long as our hearts are open to receive that love and truth.
So if a guy is Muslim, I would want him to be the best Muslim he can be, same for Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Hindus or whatever faith group you can imagine. The key is that the person needs to be willing to be open to the power of love in his life.
The danger to the spiritual life is any kind of excessive fundamentalism in any religion that ends up creating a god in our image – a.k.a. an idol.
People become like the God they worship, so if they worship an intolerant, punishing, judge-in-the-sky kind of god, then it is no wonder they end up being intolerant, vengeful and judgmental in their own lives. Fear of God isn’t about being afraid of God; it’s about honoring and respecting the power of God as something so much greater than our own power.
I think that is why I found the late Bo Lozoff such a good teacher. I knew Bo well and am still in contact with his wife, Sita. He modeled for me a love of God that respected all people’s spiritual path as something holy and good.
Not all paths are straight paths, but Bo taught, and I believe, that all paths, when lived with Catholicism – the word Catholic means “universal” – that doesn’t mean we believe any or everything that others believe, that is impossible – but it does mean that we see in humanity, a universal longing for union with God.
What’s good about San Quentin and what needs to be changed?
I have always been impressed with the number and quality of programs here – it makes the place much more humane than other prisons I worked in back East. But the best thing about San Quentin is the people in it – both those wearing blue and those wearing green.
I have found the staff here easy to work with and very professional. In Massachusetts, they looked at chaplains (and sometimes with good reason) with suspicion and distrust. Here I have felt welcome and have been treated as a colleague, not a nuisance.
The men in blue who I encounter most often are a pleasure to work with – there aren’t a lot of differences with the guys here and those I knew in Massachusetts, except of course no one here speaks with a wicked “Bastin” accent.
I have enjoyed working with men on Death Row too. That is a place of contrasts. There are deep and troubling shadows there – spiritually it is a dark place – but there is also light and humor and humanity there – and that outweighs the heaviness and darkness of the place.
In your opinion, what is good and bad about the criminal justice system?
I think we have to own up to the institutionalized racism in our criminal justice system. That’s the most obvious flaw I think and because of it many lives and communities have been disrupted and damaged.
I’m working on a Ph.D. now in criminal justice. I started in 2007, when I was in Boston, long before I knew I’d be out here. Our prisons could be more humane places than they generally are (San Quentin being an exception) – and it’s a serious problem that we imprison so many of our people – way more than any other advanced countries do.
My impression of corrections workers is that they do the best job they can – but the public seems uninformed and oblivious to many of the issues around prisons.
I think too that starting in the 1980s the U.S. went on a prison binge that was fueled by a cynical political “get tough on crime” mentality that has not served our society well. So fairly radical change has to happen – but I imagine it will take time for us as a society to figure a way out of it.
I see many hopeful signs though – such as the changes in the Three Strikes law and the way that a lot more lifers are getting a chance for parole, which wasn’t possible only a few years back.
Father George Williams Speaks Of His San Quentin Experiences
The following is the first of a two-part interview with Father George Williams, the Catholic Chaplain for San Quentin.
How did you come to work at San Quentin?
I had visited here a few times when Father Barber was the chaplain. At the time of those visits, I had no idea I’d ever be working here.
I came out here to talk with him about his programs here – to get some ideas to bring back to Massachusetts. I was impressed with the chapels here and the programs available.
I remember thinking how much I would like to work here. Then out of the blue in the summer of 2010, a Jesuit friend of mine in Los Angeles called and asked me if I would be interested in coming to San Quentin as a chaplain since Father Barber had by then decided to move on.
My immediate reaction was, “Of course!” And I joked with my community (who tend to be academics) that it was like getting a call from Harvard asking if I wanted a tenured position there. So it was really like an offer for the best job ever for me – and I jumped at the chance. The reaction back East was, “Oh, wow. San Quentin!”
My parent’s reaction was simple: “Are you insane?” They didn’t like the idea of their only son moving all the way out to California only to get shanked on his first day on the job (they watched too many “Lockdown” episodes).
So I was pretty excited and happy at the prospect of coming here – and a bit apprehensive of working on Death Row – not sure why. I guess I had visions of Hannibal Lecter or something. But the reality has been that I really enjoy working with the guys on Death Row and no one there is like Hannibal Lecter!
It wasn’t like anyone had to twist my arm to move to the Bay Area either – it is beautiful here, and as much as I love the city of Boston, I haven’t missed the weather back there. And I get back a few times a year to see people and spend time in Boston, so I don’t get homesick.
Actually after four years now, this area is beginning to feel more and more like home. San Quentin certainly does.
I decided to drive out here when I moved – to really make it a kind of spiritual pilgrimage – driving across the country slowly, over a few weeks, staying with friends along the way – including a week at a monastery in Colorado – a place I really love.
So it was a grace-filled and smooth transition from East to West, and I haven’t regretted it for a second. My hope is that I can now do 25-to-life here at San Quentin.
I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than work here and I’m incredibly grateful that God has given me this opportunity to do so. My four years here so far have truly been the best years of my life, so far … And that’s in no small part to the men in blue here who make working here such a joy.
What was your vision?
I don’t know if I had a clear vision about coming to San Quentin. I had been working in prison ministry for about 20 years. I started at Boston City Jail and slowly worked my way up to the state prison system as a chaplain in Massachusetts. While I have a deep love for this work, I found Massachusetts a pretty horrible system to work in as a chaplain. There was little in the way of rehabilitative programming in the state prisons. They were and are pretty bleak places.
I think my mental image of San Quentin was like most people on the East Coast have – a famous prison – Death Row, violent past, Johnny Cash and so on. It has a scary cache about it.
My vision for the Catholic Chapel here is that it be truly a house of God that people of all faiths (or no faith) can come to be spiritually fed, whatever their path.
How has being a Jesuit influenced ministry here?
One of the things that attracted me to the Jesuits (the official title of the order is “The Society of Jesus”) is that its members tend to be really smart men who have open minds and never stop learning.
Another thing that attracted me to the Jesuits was their emphasis on working with the poor and marginalized.
A quote that caught my attention early on was a statement they made about our faith: “The mission of the Society of Jesus today is the service of faith, of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement. For reconciliation with God demands the reconciliation of people with one anther.”
Looking back, I see how God has guided my choices – and led me to this work. The Christian churches haven’t always responded enough to prison ministry – the work has to be an expression of the Gospel – to go where the church is not, to serve those who society has neglected or rejected.
It just so happened that as I began my life as a Jesuit, the U.S. was already beginning a tragic move toward mass incarceration. At no time have there ever been so many Americans locked up in jails and prisons – and the churches for the most part haven’t mobilized to meet the needs of prisoners or those who work in prisons.
Part Two of this interview will be published in June.
Jai Uttal Performs ‘Music From the Heart’
The Music from the Heart devotional concert services hosted Grammy-nominated artist Jai Uttal in the Catholic Chapel for the fourth time on Dec. 7.
Those who attended were encouraged to chant sacred Sanskrit mantras along with the musicians.
According to Jai, “Mantras mean that which transforms the mind. When we sing mantras, the mind comes back to the heart.”
Kirtan is a particular style of singing that has become popular in devotional circles. Jai is considered one of its foremost exponents. “Kirtan,” said Jai, “is when you sing phrases that are names for God. They are sung with music and rhythm. The essence is God’s name. Singing is the meditation.”
Jai’s drummer, Radhanath, played intricate rhythms on a two-headed clay drum that hung like a guitar over his shoulder. In Sanskrit it is called a mridanga-anga (body) mri (earth). Radhanath exuded confidence, grace, passion and devotion as he playfully danced while singing love songs to God. When asked to perform repeated solos, he energized the audience with his expert hand drumming. “Kirtan is being sung all around the world. Holy places (temples) in India are crowded now because Westerners are taking an interest in Kirtan,” he said.
One of the many Kirtans taught to the men during the performance was “Om Namah Shivaya,” a popular Sanskrit chant. When asked what it meant, Jai explained that one translation is “Thy will be done.” For more literal translations, he said that “Shiva (God) is the Lord of transformation and assists us from darkness to light. Om is believed to be the first word of creation, Namah means ‘bow to’ and Shivaya represents the ocean of mercy and benevolence.” It translates to ‘I bow to God within.’”
Jai played a small organ-like instrument called a harmonium while his powerful melodic voice rang out clearly through the chapel. When asked why he sang in Sanskrit, an ancient language, he replied, “I love Sanskrit mantras. Words are another form of God. The spirit of God is there.” Jai’s personal experience is that “Art and music in India are designed to open the heart and connect with Spirit. I see every instrument that one can play can be devotional music for God.”
In an interview afterward, Jai was asked how Kirtan affected his life. His reply: “It’s saved my life. I was deeply into drug addiction and drinking, and Kirtan maintained a thread of connection to God. It pulled me out of that life.” He went on to say, “Yoga practice is expanding and Kirtan is so linked to yoga. Kirtan addresses the anguish of the heart, and our society is becoming desperate.”
The female vocalist in the performing trio, Kalimba, appeared peaceful and poised as she sang accompaniment. In her words, “It’s like an honor to come back because people are consciously working on themselves. The truth is we are already incarcerated in a human body. But people in prison are aware they’re incarcerated, and there’s an opportunity to better oneself.”
Jesuit Father George Williams and San Quentin facilitator and Chaplin Intern Susan Shannon are the co-creators of the Sunday evening devotional concert series. She was questioned how she thought the San Quentin community received Jai.
“I knew Jai would be a good fit. His love of all the faces and names of God come through his voice. The point of these devotional music nights is to create and unite us all with the resonance of our hearts, all responding to that oneness of love and joy which is available to us when we do our inner work together. My hope is that we sing together and resonate with that light of devotion. This is such an inner and outer blessing, which promotes healing and interconnectedness between all of us present, and all of us not present.”
Musicians Premal and Miten Perform For a Packed House at San Quentin
Several hundred inmates packed the San Quentin Catholic Chapel, chanting sacred mantras with Deva Premal and her band.
“Spirituality is our theme. Mantras are powerful and they reach out,” Premal and partner Miten said later. “We offer tools for meditation and inner peace so that the energy of the mind can be channeled in a good way. Music with mantra stays with you.”
The couple has been writing, singing and playing beautiful music together for more than 23 years. They performed on Sept. 12 at San Quentin.
They came as a five-piece band – most of them flying in from Germany – to begin yet another leg of their current U.S. tour.
Having gained global popularity, the group also tours in countries as diverse as England, Spain, Russia, Israel and Australia. To date, they have recorded 17 CDs.
Their musical compositions blend mystical Vedic chants, ethnic melodies and mesmerizing vocal harmonies to create an atmosphere of healing, spacious joy and shared connection.
Highlights included Premal’s exquisite voice, Miten’s acoustic guitar arpeggios and the exotic sounds from flutist Manose.
Catholic Chaplain George Williams introduced the band. He explained that their performance was part of the chapel’s monthly devotional concert series called “Music from the Heart.” The series also includes cultural presentations meant to celebrate different religious and cultural traditions.
As the band began playing, singing and chanting, a sense of wonder and appreciation filled the audience. The men clapped enthusiastically after each song. Deva gently encouraged them several times not to clap, but settle into the silence. Later into the set, a rich cloak of silence enveloped and an incredible sense of deep peace permeated the space.
A tender moment surfaced when Miten told a poignant story about a song he wrote called “Native Son.” It captured the essence of longing to connect with his son who was thousands of miles away.
Styles of music included reggae, easy listening and blues. At one point an energetic rendition of Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “You Gotta Move” thrilled the crowd and a litany of cheers and clapping erupted.
The band’s technician, Caroline, called the experience at San Quentin her “favorite show of the year.”
In an interview after the 90-minute concert, Premal and Miten expressed their reactions.
“We’ve performed in other prisons and enjoy the opportunity. We’re grateful,” Premal said. “We feel a connection with inmates. We see them as beautiful and shining. We look for the dimension of silence where there’s no distinction between us. There’s nowhere to go but in. We always feel like we’re home – people are all the same everywhere we play. “
The band’s unified vision is: “Love is the only prayer.”
“We began just playing for friends. We played in the moment and it just mushroomed. We never looked at it as a career. We just love what we do.”
Reaction from the audience included:
“Last night I had more fun in a church than I did on the streets abusing alcohol and drugs,” said Frank Mabry III.
“There were moments during the performance where I was able to let go – felt overwhelmed by the moment – and bawled my eyes out. I felt the love they brought to the moment,” said Rudy Camozzi.
“I had body aches, soreness and a headache when I arrived at the event. I was hoping there wasn’t going to be a lot of shrieking. When I left, I felt refreshed and my headache was gone. It was a healing experience,” said Dan Myers.
The Many Gifts the Amala Foundation Provides
One recipient from a fundraiser held on San Quentin’s Lower Yard was 13-year-old Lewis Windham, son of inmate John Windham.
With more than $10,000 raised in total, the May 25 Amala Walk for Youth received about $600 from the men of San Quentin. Proceeds of the fundraiser went to scholarships for youngsters like Lewis to attend peace summits.
Lewis Windham playing with a child at the Amala camp
The Amala Foundation (www.amalafoundation.org) was founded by Vanessa Stone. It represents children from more than 20 countries, with 16 languages and various religions.
The foundation holds weeklong residential summer camps in Texas and California for teenagers from around the world. The California peace summit was held July 21-27 in Foresthill and accommodated 60 young men ages 14-18.
“This week was an incredibly powerful week for Lewis,” said Stone. “He was one of the most open, caring, kind and beautiful souls. He touched the heart of many of the youth. He was so excited to be there and it was a total gift to have him. He stood up and said to the entire group that he hadn’t ever before felt so much love and so much connection with so many different kinds of people like the love he feels within his own family.”
John talked about what it meant for having his son attend the peace summit. “I’m thankful to the Amala Foundation for giving him this experience at such a young age,” he said.
Communication between them is open and their personal experiences are always shared during the 10 years that his son has been visiting him, John said. “I was brought to tears when I read Vanessa’s words and felt so proud of my son,” adding, “The only roadblock from connecting with your child is you. Nothing can prevent you from reaching out and connecting in whatever way you are able.”
Plans Unfold for S.Q. Peace Walk in June
This summer, prisoners, administrators and correctional officers plan to bridge their differences and unite for poor children around the world.
San Quentin has scheduled its second annual Peace Walk for Sunday, June 10, 2012.
The walk raises money to aid traumatized youth around the world.
Champions for Children, prisoners, outside volunteers and San Quentin staff are organizing the walk.
Last year’s Peace Walk raised upwards of $12,000 in spite of short notice.
The beneficiary is the Amala Foundation, a non-profit organization that aids youth challenged by poverty and violence.
Donations will send these youth to Amala Foundation’s annual Global Youth Peace Summit, a weeklong conference for youth ages 13-18 years. The event is part of Amala’s One Village Project that serves to unite youth with local refugee and immigrant children to promote cultural awareness.
Amala founder Vanessa Stone began coming into San Quentin a few years ago. Renowned as a spiritual teacher, she gave inspirational talks to the men and said she was deeply moved by their commitment to spiritual growth and their heartfelt desire to serve. As a natural outflow of their concerns for underprivileged youth, Champions for Children was formed.
In Vanessa’s words, “When human beings authentically connect, celebrate life and receive what is being offered…what arises is a natural impulse to unite, to serve, to give, to love…”
Last year’s Peace Walk bridged the gap between staff, inmates, volunteers, and guest walkers for a moment in time – One Village united in heart-opening service. One guest who walked last year was 18-year-old Evelyn who, as a young girl in Uganda, was abducted to be a child soldier. She told the men that because of the Peace Walk at San Quentin, she now knows that the world is about love and not about hate.
Amala is seeking sponsorship from businesses and individuals. In addition, reservations are available for up to 100 guests who wish to walk. San Quentin residents are encouraged to express their generosity of heart by walking and donating, using a trust account withdrawal form. Notices will be posted in the housing units for walking signups.
Contact: www.amalafoundation.org
–Dwight Krizman contributed to this story.