Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco blessed the men and grounds of San Quentin Prison and delivered a message of salvation during a holiday season visit. The title of his sermon was, “Salvation is worked out right where we are at.” “God comes to meet us where we are at,” said the archbishop. He said part of his responsibility as Catholic leader of this region is to visit San Quentin two or three times a year, mainly around the holidays. “I look forward to coming here and getting to know the men here in the … [Read more...] about SF Archbishop blesses SQ men during holiday season visit
Religious Programs
The ladies of Beauty Behind Bars return to San Quentin
The ladies from Beauty Behind Bars speaking to a prisoner on the Lower Yard An all-women’s organization, aimed at inspiring incarcerated people to overcome their despair and anger, visited San Quentin on Nov. 3 for the second time in two years. “There is beauty in any and all situations,” said founder Tiffany Love-Harden inside the Inter-Faith Chapel on the Saturday afternoon. “My bars may be different from your bars, but we must all find the beauty behind bars. All of our prisons are not the same.” Love-Harden added, “With this … [Read more...] about The ladies of Beauty Behind Bars return to San Quentin
Magick helps man to survive the row
An Arkansas inmate performed ceremonial “ magick” to help him survive Death Row, reported an article in The Guardian. Damien Echols said he summoned an angel through magick (which he believes is a mixture of gnostic Christianity, esoteric Judaism, and Taoist energy practices) to protect himself. “It had no discernible facial features. But I knew it was an angel,” Echols said, “and I got why angels in the Bible say ‘be not afraid’ when they show up, because this thing was terrifying.” Echols and two friends were convicted of killing … [Read more...] about Magick helps man to survive the row
Death Row gains attention with crucifixion painting
Prisoners on Death Row in Nashville gained the attention of many parishioners with a thought-provoking painting of the crucifixion scene of Jesus, reported Holly Meyer of the USA Today Network. Derrick Quintero, sentenced to death in 1991 for first-degree murder, is one of the artists who depicted the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. “The piece of art is a commentary on the continuing battle for our collective moral world view. I asked my fellow community members to help me create this project to begin conversation about what … [Read more...] about Death Row gains attention with crucifixion painting
Five nights of mind, body and soul seeking at Christian revival
The phrase “a convenient season” was taken from the Book of Acts; Chapter 24; Verse 25 as a theme for San Quentin’s Garden Chapel annual revival. For five nights, a convenient season was explained in depth. Pastor Ferrari Moody, prisoner sparked the interest of a hundred men with a sermon titled, “Your habits determine your harvest.” “At the root of this principle lies the prevailing disposition of our thoughts which dictate our action and ultimately develops our character,” he said repeatedly to the men who made up the congregation … [Read more...] about Five nights of mind, body and soul seeking at Christian revival
Gabriel Cannon creating his own fame at SQ prison chapel
Walking in the shadow of fame and being showered with gifts and admiration was subject of an Oct. 21 sermon to a jam-packed prison chapel by Gabriel Cannon, the brother of superstar Nick Cannon, who said that worldly goods and special treatment did not bring him happiness. Gabe Cannon told an audience of more than 300 in- mates, some sitting in folding chairs along the aisles, about his interview with Rapzilla. He said as Nick’s fame grew, he was “thrilled to just be identified” as his little brother. Celebrity status, however, caused … [Read more...] about Gabriel Cannon creating his own fame at SQ prison chapel
Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ
Decades ago, in the midst of preaching the gospel, Pastor Tom Pham exited the podium, hopped onto a motorcycle and escaped the scene as the Vietnamese authorities approached. If caught preaching, he would face incarceration for violating laws prohibiting religious services. Now, he sits in prison, once a week, with his colleagues sharing the gospel with the men inside. Pastor Pham said God called him to San Quentin five years ago. He came to San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel as a guest and met several of the incarcerated Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ
Lớp Học Kinh Thánh Việt Nam Tại San Quentin
Dịch giả: Danny Nha Hồ và David Bờm Lê Cách đây vài thập niên, trong khi truyền giảng phúc âm thì Mục Sư Tom Phạm đã phải rời bỏ phòng nhóm, nhảy lên một chiếc xe gắn máy để chạy trốn hiện trường vì bị chính quyền Việt Nam rượt đuổi. Nếu bị bắt vì tội truyền giảng, Mục Sư Tom sẽ phải ngồi tù. Bây giờ Mục Sư Tom ngồi tù mỗi tuần một lần với nhiều cọng sự viên của ông để chia xẻ phúc âm với tù nhân. Mục Sư Tom cho biết Chúa đã kêu gọi ông đến với San … [Read more...] about Lớp Học Kinh Thánh Việt Nam Tại San Quentin
Pow Wow celebration sees return of Native leader
Lee Polanco was a correctional officer in San Quentin from the late 1980s to the 2000s. He still has family working within the prison. “I worked Death Row, the housing blocks and the gun tower,” Polanco said. “But being a C/O wasn’t my calling. The Creator had bigger plans for me.” Now 81, Polanco returned to San Quentin Sept. 7 to bestow the ceremonial blessing to open the Native American Religious Group annual Fall Pow Wow. Tribal drums and coordinated dances echoed in San Quentin’s visiting room, as Polanco, draped in a blue and red … [Read more...] about Pow Wow celebration sees return of Native leader
In loving memory of fellow Brother Charles “Chuck” Adams
Walking inside San Quentin’s Chapel on August 10, a visitor watched ushers standing and handing out programs that read “In Loving Memory of Brother Charles ‘Chuck’ Adams— Rejoice in Heaven, Chuck. Dec. 8, 1950 – May 30, 2018.” Adams was 67 years old. “Sometimes it’s difficult to find people who are committed,” church elder Derrick Holloway said. “He exemplified what it meant to walk with the Lord.” The ceremony began with the 21-member Worship Team, to which Adams had belonged, taking the stage while an audience of about 50 inmates … [Read more...] about In loving memory of fellow Brother Charles “Chuck” Adams