Bringing Comfort Behind Bars
How One SVD Missionary Finds Sacred Space in a Caribbean Prison
Beautiful Tortola, a part of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, is known for its pristine beaches and natural beauty. Yet surrounded by that beauty, Divine Word Missionary Father Paul Czoch, pastor of St. William’s Catholic Church regularly leaves it behind to step inside His Majesty’s Prison walls. Here he offers tangible physical care and spiritual comfort to those who are forgotten. He is able to offer hope and some inner peace at this security environment.
Entering Gates of Mercy
The prison sits on one of the most beautiful spots on the island and offers a splendid view of the Caribbean Sea, something the residents are not privileged to enjoy. Fr. Czoch is an SVD missionary originally from the south of Poland and in entering these prison gates creates a stark contrast. The beauty of the island fades away as the heavy iron doors shut behind him. He leaves a scenic paradise behind to bring God’s loving presence to men and women confined in stone cells.
Fr. Czoch’s ministry began unexpectedly six or seven years ago when a Catholic woman requested a priest. Fr. Paul answered this call and entered the prison gates for the first time. Fr. Paul recalls “the most surprising thing was that I felt good, not out of place, but that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
This unintended first visit was the beginning of a lasting commitment to a collaborative service. Gradually, the authorities allowed him to visit almost every cell and even the off-limits area. He walked along the corridors to pray with and offer blessings and holy water to anyone who wished.
Respecting Local Culture
In small island communities, such as Tortola, social connections can run deep. Most everyone knows each other on some level. This familiarity helps Fr. Paul connect more easily with the inmates. He often recognizes individuals that he knew from his parish before they were incarcerated. This familiarity helps foster trust and opens him up to listen without judgment.
Fr. Paul’s previous missionary assignment in Africa taught him the vital importance of learning about and understanding local customs before speaking about faith. On Tortola, family bonds remain very strong. Relatives will regularly visit the prison brining some home-cooked meals and keeping constant contact.
Delivering Words of Comfort
Before Fr. Paul enters the prison gates, he takes time to pause and look out at the ocean. He whispers a simple one-sentence prayer: “Lord guide me and send your Spirit ahead of me today.” This Spirit-driven focus prepares him to encounter individuals who are seeking to deepen their faith and find hope in difficult circumstances.
Even inside of the cramped cells, the Word of God finds space to give a message of pure comfort. This time provides an intimate emotional connection that transcends the grey walls. In this vital outreach, Fr. Paul lives out his SVD vocation with profound daily gratitude. Following the legacy of the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Society of Divine Word, his work proves that the Divine Word will continue to reach the forgotten.
Your prayers and financial support enable SVD missionaries like Fr. Paul to bring hope into the darkest and least expected spaces. You are invited to stand with our global missions today to uplift the forgotten and share God’s comforting Word. In this way, you too become one of God’s missionaries proclaiming the Good News to all men and women.
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