The HISTORY of 
Catholic Services at the Washtenaw County Jail.

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The property currently called the "Washtenaw County Service Center", including the Sheriff's Office, District Courts and Prosecutors Office, was sold to Washtenaw County in 1978 by the Catholic Holy Ghost Fathers' Seminary.  Go to the Pittsfield History Page to see photos & learn more about it.

June 30, 2000, Fr. Jim, Pastor of St. Francis Parish asked Scott Wright the Director of the St. Francis Parish Social Ministry Office to begin a jail ministry at the WCJ. 

December 2000 - Dec. 2001, Scott Wright Director of the St. Francis Social Ministry Office & other Catholic volunteers participated in the Christian volunteers' meetings & revivals at the jail.  He invited and welcomed interested volunteers from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, as well as Catholics from any parish.  He posted an invitation in all of the local Washtenaw County Catholic Parish bulletins and requested volunteer assistance in establishing a Catholic Ministry at the Jail.   Both, Mr. Robert Roleke and then Deacon Edwin Novak, seriously committed themselves to the work of establishing the Catholic Ministry at the Jail.

January 2002, Bishop Carl Mengling, of the Diocese of Lansing, named Rev. Deacon Edwin Novak as the "Resident Catholic Chaplain".

January 11, 2002, theThomas More Law Center assisted in the establishment of the Catholic Ministry at the Washtenaw County Jail.

February 21, 2002, a sacristy cabinet was purchased & an altar was built and St. Francis of Assisi Parish donated both to the jail.

February 23 - March 1, 2002, the press release about the Jail Ministry in The Catholic Times. 

February 26, 2002, First Saturday service  18 inmates - 6 signed-up for confession. 

March 22, 2002, Deacon Edwin presented the new ministry at the Vicariate meeting for Priests.

March 23, 2002, Palm Sunday (Saturday Jail Mass) The Bishop celebrated the first Mass at the jail with 2 honor guards from the K of C. 

July 16, 2002,  Bishop Carl Mengling, of the Diocese of Lansing, named Fr. Antonio Elfeghali  as the "Sacramental Minister" at the Jail.

October 2002, The RCIA Group/Catechism Class with 18 inmates was started by volunteer catechist, Mr. Robert Roleke.

January 11, 2003, on the feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

April 26, 2003, during the Easter season, again, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

June 7, 2003, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

August 1, 2003, we are asked by the jail staff to be to provide more services so to segregate the women from the men.  The services for women could be held in the womens' area of the jail.

August 3, 2003, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

August 9, 2003, a new all womens' service begins in the womens' section of the jail lead by Linda Horning.  (Shortly after this new service for the women started the jail asked that we split the womens' gathering into two areas.  So, now there are two services for the women each Saturday, plus extra services and groups on Sundays & Wednesdays..)

November 8, 2003, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

November 22, 2003, We started celebrating Liturgy of the Word with Communion for the mens' Saturday service.  Before this time we celebrtaed Liturgy of the Word without Communion.

December 1, 2003, two electronic piano key boards were donated by St. Francis Parish Members for use in the jail ministry.  One is a like-new used-key-board, and the other is a new key board purchased from "King's Key Board Store" thanks to a designated donation of $400.00.

December 31, 2003,Thanks for the wonderful ministry work you volunteers have done among the inmates during the past year. In 2003 the Church received 27 new persons into the Catholic Church (20 of whom had not previously been baptised & 7 of whom were already baptized in another church denomination.) and 4 more persons that were already baptized Catholic received the Sacrament of Confirmation and made their First Communion.  During the year, 2003, the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Eucharist, were celebrated on January 11, April 26, June 7, August 3, and November 8, with a total of 31 persons being welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Today, about forty-five inmates are participating weekly in a variety of Catholic worship services for persons in the Washtenaw County Jail.   Some are Catholics, some are persons interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. 

Men & women in the Washtenaw County Jail are wounded, hurting & in need of spiritual healing.  Many with self-inflicted spiritual wounds are ostracized from ordinary life and they are seeking the Lord Jesus who alone can reconcile and make new.

Now we are truly blessed to have over  20 active lay volunteers, and about 12 priests, that visit the jail and spread the good news about Jesus and encourage others to live & celebrate the faith. 

Thanks to the more than 20 lay volunteers & Scott Wright, who coordinates the schedules, volunteers, supplies & training for the ministry.  The volunteers help to organize, answer questions about our faith, serve Mass, lead prayer, Liturgy of the Word, and preach/share the gospel. 

We are blessed with a wonderful Sacramental Minister, Fr. Antonio Elfeghali, who, with the help of Bob Roleke, our Volunteer Director of Catechetical Formation,  comes to the jail several times every week to hear confessions and counsel inmates.  He also has one of the two Masses each month.  The other Mass each month is celebrated with one of the other 15 priests from the area.  Fr. Ziad Antoun, Fr. James Conlon, Fr. Terrence Dumas, Fr. Antonio Elfeghali, Fr. Thomas Firestone, Fr. Dennis Glasgow, Fr. Arulsamy Innasimuthu, Fr. Charlie Irvin, Fr. Richard Lobert, Fr. Jim McDougall, Fr. Francis Mossholder, Fr. Roger Prokop, Fr. Fortunato Turati, Fr. Brendan Walsh, Fr. Eric Weber. 

We really appreciate all of our priests, deacons & lay volunteers especially:   Jeannette Barbacane, Bob Boone, Mary Denise Curran, Vince Curran, Bob Horning, Linda Horning, David Lincoln, Deacon Edwin Novak, Art Okarski,  Gary Roche, Bob Roleke, Richard Rykowski, and, some other volunteers who prefer to remain anonymous.

This is a growing, healing jail ministry.

January 15, 2004, Mr. Bob Roleke is now approved by the Michigan Department of Corrections as an "Outreach Volunteer" which enables him to go into any prison in the State of Michigan System (quarantine?) for one-to-one visits with inmates.  The Diocese of Lansing is his sponsor (arranged by Gary Ashby). 
Michigan Department of Corrections www.michigan.gov/corrections See "Offender Search".

February 28, 2004, We started celebrating Liturgy of the word with Communion for the womens' Saturday service.  Before this time we celebrtaed Liturgy of the Word without Communion.
 

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004.  (The following is a reflection by -- Joe Campbell) Easter is upon us and I want to share a resurrection story I witnessed last Sunday(Palm Sunday) about the extraordinary jail ministry.  Each week we commonly have catechetical classes(RCIA), communion service or Mass, adoration and bible study. In addition to each of these activities several members of the ministry meet inmates one on one. The one on one ministry takes place virtually every day. There are thirty volunteers working in the program. Because of the requests of the inmates, we are continually attempting to expand the ministry both in and outside the jail. I have only been involved in this ministry for the past ten months. But like others in the ministry, I find myself drawn more and more deeply into the work. At first, I was very resistant to anything but present my weekly class in catechesis. Most recently, because of repeated requests of the inmates, I find myself gradually doing more and more one on one counseling. The counseling has brought me into a deeper understanding of the problems of so many inmates. As statistics demonstrate, so many of these inmates come from broken or non-existent homes. These inmates, from their earliest years, have lived a pain filled existence. As they move into adult life they are commonly looking for a way to escape the emotional and psychological pain that is their life. Drinking and drugs are a very common escape mechanism. But the escape mechanism gets expensive, so they typically start stealing to "feed" their habit. It's the stealing that usually gets them into jail. Another common cause of their incarceration is violence. Their pain filled lives coupled with drugs makes these inmates easy prey to violence. For some of the inmates, fortunately, their pain and spiritual emptiness draws them to search for God. Our message, of hope, healing and redemption, even in this life, resonates with a very deep need in their spirits. The inmates, who come to our services, commonly reach out to experience God. We, in the ministry, are almost daily witnessing the touch of Jesus in the lives of these wounded souls. It's a privilege and a deepening source of faith to see God working in the inmates. The psalmist says God will not spurn the contrite and humbled. And in psalm 34 we are reminded that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. I hear the words of the psalmist at church and I see the Lord visibly fulfilling His Word in the jail! For example, this past Sunday evening, a man, sitting beside me at a bible study, took a piece of paper out of his prison uniform. His face was twitching, his hand was trembling and his voice was choked up, as he read what he was unable to simply speak. His step father, who had repeatedly beaten him as a boy, even, at times, braking his bones, was the subject of Scott's presentation. For over 10 years, after becoming a Christian, Scott's step father sought Scott's forgiveness but Scott always bitterly refused. But Sunday evening, Scott gave testimony about forgiving his step father. Scott repeatedly fought off tears as he struggled to read from his paper. Another member of the ministry team, Bob Roleke, had encouraged Scott, earlier in the week, during a one to one meeting, to forgive his late step father. After forgiving his step father, Scott told us of the emotional and psychological release he experienced and the joy that filled his heart. It was hard for Scott to share what happened to him spiritually but the other inmates, there for the bible study, encouraged him, telling Scott to take his time as it was obviously so hard for Scott to express what was now on his heart. Events like Scott's testimony are now commonplace in our ministry. As I walked out of the jail that night, the words of Don Bosco came to mind: give me souls and you can have all the rest.  He is risen, he is risen indeed!   (by -- Joe Campbell)

 

Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004.  (The following is a reflection by -- Jessica Sherwood) [At the Catholic Religious Education - Catechism Class in the jail] Wednesday nights are going so great.  Last night several of the women said they loved having us there and they always looked forward to seeing us.  They are so open, its amazing.

April 17, 2004, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

April 24, 2004, celebrating the Mass for all & only women at the jail for the first time.

April 27, 2004, Tuesday evenings, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, Starting to enter J-Block for the purpose of conducting a bible study lead by Joe Campbell.  (This changed to Monday evenings July 2004.)
 

May 2004, In jail, John found the spiritual father and faith to move forward find out how DSA supports the life-changing jail ministry. --- Bob Roleke and Scott Wright have assembled a group of 35 volunteers who minister to the prisoner population on a regular basis. The ministry’s material needs – hymnals, missalettes, vestments, and the like – are addressed by DSA, through the diocese’s Office of Restorative Justice.   See the story by Patricia Majher & photos by Christine Jones, in "FAITH.MAG" PDF file. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom 10:13) This Scripture verse, from the epistle of St. Paul to the Romans,  is a great comfort to “John,” an inmate at the Washtenaw County Jail.  John, who is awaiting trial, identifies with St. Paul, saying,  “He was a sinner like me, and he found his way to the Lord.” John wasn’t raised in a religious family.  A couple of years of Baptist Sunday school was all the exposure he ever had to Christ and His teachings. But that didn’t stop him from finding something worthwhile in the religious instruction provided by Catholic volunteers at the jail. He calls Bob Roleke – co-coordinator of the jail ministry – “my spiritual father.”  Bob and Scott Wright have assembled a group of 35 volunteers who minister to the prisoner population on a regular basis. The ministry’s material needs – hymnals, missalettes, vestments, and the like – are addressed by DSA, through the diocese’s Office of Restorative Justice. The ministry’s leaders have also been trained with DSA support.  Their ministry has only been in existence in Washtenaw County for two years, but what a difference it has made in the lives of those it touches.  John can attest to that: “Before I met them, I was greedy and lust-filled.  I didn’t have a purpose in life outside myself.  Now, I’m trying hard to get into heaven – to glorify God and bring others with me.” John is so serious about his newfound faith that he has taken to spreading the Gospel to other inmates on his block. “Bob gave me some extra prayer books, and I pass them out there,” he explains.  Praying is another thing John has a lot of time for these days. “Every day at  3 p.m., I pray the devotion to Christ, because that’s the time He died for our sins.” John has also become a student of “Introduction to the Devout Life,” by St. Francis de Sales. “Bob brings me books that help me get closer to God,” he says. In terms of spiritual development, John is “one of our success stories,” says Bob. “He’s just on fire with the power of God.  He regularly attends Mass and Communion services and Bible study – even the adoration of the Eucharist.” John has also completed the RCIA, and has been baptized into the Catholic Church. Not surprisingly, he asked Bob to be his godfather. “I was honored to be asked,” explains Bob. “Now I have a responsibility to pray for him and help lift him up to God.”  Some people might have had a problem associating themselves so closely with someone accused of committing a crime. But Bob didn’t hesitate. “We’re all sinners. We’re all broken,” he says.  “I’m in no position to judge.”  In 2003, John was confirmed. “For my confirmation name, I picked ‘Augustine,’” he says. “Like Paul, he’s another sinner turned saint.”  When asked what this focus on faith has brought him, John responded, “It gives me peace. It helps me cope with what I’m going through.” It also appears to have given him confidence.  “I used to be so shy,” he relates. “Now I get up and do the readings (at Mass), no problem.”  Perhaps the most important thing he’s gained from committing his life to Christ, though, is hope for the future.  “I pray that I’ll be able to get out,” he says. “And, if I do, I’d like to work to bring more people to God – maybe become a jail minister.”  John knows firsthand how important such a ministry can be. “I’m so thankful for Bob, and for Joe (Campbell) and Jack (Flanagan). Without them, I would have been lost.”

June 23, 2004, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.
 

July 18, 2004.  (The following is a reflection by -- Joe Campbell *) The story about adoration in jail: Sunday evening recently as Bob Roleke and I were being checked just before entering the jail proper, the guard said: "I don’t think they are allowing Catholic services tonight." Since we weren’t stopped, Bob and I continued through the final door into the jail corridors. Seeing a guard who enthusiastically supports our labors, we asked him to see that our service would be announced in the women’s cell block. He said: "I sure will!"  Bob and I were admitted into classroom ‘A’ and we began to set up, not knowing whether any women would be allowed to come down to the classroom. After about ten minutes, we were about ready for the women to come. A guard came to the classroom door and said: "The women will be here in about a minute." The guard’s announcement brought joy to our hearts. During the past month we had been shut out of the jail three times. A week earlier there were six of us, Catholic volunteers, at one of the final doors of the jail when we were told, over the intercom, that there was a lock down and we couldn’t come in. Anyone volunteering at the jail, while disappointed, gets use to these last minute cancellations. But tonight the women kept coming into the room. We didn’t have enough seats! I brought four chairs from the neighboring classroom. Then Bob had to go back and get three more. Tonight we would have a 'full house' for our service in the classroom. We were planning Eucharistic adoration preceded by a period of preaching to stir up the hearts of these women. During the preaching, some of the younger women were ‘goofing-off’ and acting silly. We were tempted to send them back to their cell blocks but I felt the Lord telling me to be patient. After about an hour of preaching, we were trying to make a transition to the time of Eucharistic adoration. Some of the trouble makers were in the back of the room. It now looked like they were asking to leave. The women were exhorted to respect this time of adoration and not carry on any conversations. If they were bored, they were told to offer up their boredom for the other women who were sincerely trying to participate. As the Eucharist was being brought in, we began singing Amazing Grace. We all knelt as Bob brought in the Eucharist and placed it in the monstrance. Then the soft music began as we all knelt or sat before the Eucharist. Of the many women present, I knew of only one who was once Catholic but had long since abandoned her faith. The women sensed the presence of Jesus. We started praying out to Jesus. The women were encouraged to pray out too. There was a period of silence with only the soft music playing in the background. Then one women prayed asking Jesus to forgive her sins and help all the people she had hurt by her sins. Then another woman asked Jesus to take away the guilt she felt because of her many sins. Then one by one similar prayers were expressed my numerous women. As they prayed you could hear soft weeping on all sides. I struggled, not wanting to weep in front of these women. While encouraging the women to keep focussed upon Jesus in the Monstrance, Bob and I went around praying over most of the women as they raised their hands asking for prayer. It was not getting late so we announced the end of the time of adoration. The women knelt as Bob prayed before removing the Eucharist. The women were invited to stand and I began a song but quickly realized the melody was unfamiliar. No one laughed. They were all still very touched by the experience of Jesus presence with us. We selected another song and concluded the time of adoration. Afterwards, Bob asked if anyone experienced the presence of Jesus. Many of the women raised their hands. There was time for a handful of the women to share what they experienced. As the women lined up to be returned to their cell blocks, several came up begging for one on one meetings. The only known Catholic, among the women, came up to me asking if she could learn more about confession as she never understood or experienced it. I promised to meet with each of them before the week was out. As the last women walked out of the classroom, Bob turned to me and simply said: "Wow!" There was no need to say anything more because we were both ministered to by what we witnessed Jesus doing among these poor women this night.   Written by -- Joe Campbell **

August 4, 2004,  Thanks for passing this on [reflections about the adoration in jail].  Jesus is alive and well and stiring in the hearts of the retreatants at the Washtenaw County Retreat Center.   (From: Rob  Carpenter) 

September 18, 2004, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

December 18, 2004, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.
 

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005, Easter Monday:  (The following is a reflection from: Bob Roleke.) Brethren Today I stepped out in faith and reactivated our Catechism 2 class on Wednesday nights in order to accommodate all those who are on the waiting list for Catholic Services.   ... If this comes to pass, we are going to need more "harvesters in the vineyard", especially on Wednesday nights. At present, we do not have approval to use classroom B for a second service on Saturday mornings or Sunday nights. Until that is given and we are ready to provide those services, those in Catechism 2 would have to wait for vacancies on the Service list in order to attend Mass or Communion Service and Adoration. ...  I trust that Our Lord will give us the wisdom to know how to proceed and that He will give all the provisions that are needed. Are you on board for this next step in our journey?  Easter blessings! Bob Roleke Catholic Religious Services Washtenaw County Jail

April 16, 2005, "Dedication of the New Monstrance (Ostensoria) for Eucharistic Adoration at the Jail".

May 21, 2005, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

May 31, 2005, Historically the St. Francis Parish Social Ministry Office, has been our founding link to the local parishes & diocese.  The director of the office, Scott Wright, has publicized, & continues to publicize, jail ministry needs/opportunities in all of the area parish bulletins, and on the established web pages.  Also, every meeting of the Priests in the Washtenaw Vicariate includes a "Mass Sign-up Sheet" and information about the needs of the ministry.   May 31, 2005, The "Jail + Prison Outreach Council" (with present: Jeanette Barbacane, Joe Campbell, Rob Carpenter, Fr. Antonio Feghali, Deacon Ed Novak, Bob Roleke, Rick Rykowski, and Scott Wright), elected to establish a 501(c)(3) corporation named "Friends of the Master".  And, This mission statement was approved unanimously: "Our mission is to invite and encourage through spiritual and material assistance those who are currently or were formerly incarcerated to yield to the call of Jesus Christ in their lives." Officers elected were: Rob Carpenter (president); Bob Roleke (vice chairman); Rick Rykowski (secretary); Mike Morrissey (treasurer). (See a more up-to-date mission statement.)

June 8, 2005, "The Church Welcomes in JAIL" celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation.

July 6, 2005, We took the first step to establishing FRIENDSOFTHEMASTER  in the cyberworld of the Internet & we paid $11.19 for the (one year) registration of the domain name: FRIENDSOFTHEMASTER.ORG.  Go ahead and visit: "FriendsOfTheMaster.org".    If you need to change any of the information associated with your  domain name or GKG username, log in to the Account and Domain Management Tool found at http://gkg.net/domain/myaccount/ .
Friends of the Master may edit their email alias or address by following these directions.
Go to:  http://www.gkg.net/domain/myaccount/  See on the left hand side "Domain Registration".  Click on "manage domains".  And again Click on "manage domains". Go to the bottom of the page and find:  "Extra Services" - "Parking" and Click on  "Configure".

July 16, 2005,  We want to thank Fr. Antonio Feghali for his faithful service at the Washtenaw county Jail as the "Sacramental Minister" for 3 years: July 16, 2002 to July 16, 2005.   Fr. Antonio Feghali's Abbot has called him to a new assignment back in Lebanon.     Thank you Fr. Antonio!!!  We'll Miss You.

October 6, 2005,  The Washtenaw County Sherriff, at the Volunteer Appreciation, Banquet gave the "Corrections Volunteer of the Year Award 2005" to Bob Roleke!!!!    "For Many Years of Outstanding Dedication and Volunteer Service Corrections Division Volunteer of the Year 2005."

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Thank you to Christine Jones for this group of photos.

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Photos from this next following group are from St. Francis Parish camera:

We have more photos that are not posted here. 
And, we hope to get more photos from The Catholic Times.
(If you're interested in a better quality original photo from this group 
contact:                     .)
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Friends of the Master is a Catholic ministry whose mission it is to assisit those from jail or prison to establish long term supportive relationships in the Christian community.

Friends of the Master will use all of the resources that God provides to remove barriers that hinder them from living a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

August 20, 2007, Robert Carpenter wrote:
At our next meeting, Tuesday September 18th. we will be working on the second part of the Mission Statement.  The first part reads, 'Friends of the Master is a Catholic ministry whose mission is to assist inmates and former inmates know God the Father through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit'.

December 6, 2007, Bob Roleke wrote:
"We distributed the bulk of the Christmas cards last night, with some left to be given out on Saturday."

The 160 Christmas cards with envelope + postage stamp, we purchased from Lamp Ministries, which is owned and operated by Helen & Joe Campbell.**

* Lamp Ministries, in the eNewsletter No. 2 January  2007, claims, "Today we are the most cohesive and most influential religious ministry in the local jail." Although Joe Campbell came into the jail ministry a couple of years after it all got started, he retells the history in a way that no one else could match.   I think of Joe as an evangelist, like St. Paul the Apostle, who came to the ministry later than the original apostles, but, motivated by the relationship he has with Jesus, he is faithful to the cause.   Read more of Joe's stories & testimonials at: www.lampministries.net/Newsletter.htm www.lampministries.net

“MY NAME is MARY:  My testimony having been in the Washtenaw County Jail a few times over...” and more Testimonies from Ex-offenders here at: testimonies.htm

"Your Story in JAIL" by you could be printed here.  Contact:  .