Visit to the Manizales female penitentiary
The Palogrande Cultural Center lived a Greater Week full of service and work for others. On this occasion, they offered spiritual workshops, shared the Holy Eucharist and above all changed the reality of 165 women incarcerated in the Manizales Penitentiary.
Learn about the experience of the volunteer Felipe Buitrago Cardona, a young man recently graduated from an engineering degree who enjoys the social work of the Palogrande Cultural Center.
The reason why I attended the #ManosALaObra University Social Project (PSU), organized by the Palogrande Cultural Center in Manizales, is that I am a graduate of the Manizaleña Youth program and there I learned about the works carried out by CorFomento through the spiritual formation of Opus Dei . The expectations I had was to meet a group of women, that one would think that, because they were there, they would be very rude or serious, but it was the opposite, it turned out to be a group of women where tenderness and joy were noticeable on their faces.
The activities that I supported on this occasion, was the preparation and interpretation of the liturgical songs for each of the ceremonies, since this work was carried out during Holy Week.
During this space, I had the opportunity to interact with some inmates, especially those who were assigned as monitors for the support and management of electronic and sound equipment. I was amazed at their commitment, their order, as well as the cordiality they had with each of the volunteers, and being able to listen to the plans and projects they have for when they leave that place.
I was struck by talking to one of the inmates (who is very close to my age) about computing and realizing that she, from prison, is pursuing a professional career related to the field of engineering and shows that desire to carry out the projects you have.
“The expectations I had was to meet a group of women, that one would think that, because they were there, would be very rude or serious, but it was the opposite, it turned out to be a group of women where tenderness and tenderness were noticeable on their faces. joy".
An experience that impressed me was when we shared some sweets and toiletries that we brought. The order they handled and their gratitude to the volunteers, is something very beautiful and that I carry within me. Many times one is ungrateful in the face of conditions that are normal, and rather than taking them a teaching, the teaching is given to one by their experiences and illusions.
I was too surprised by the treatment of the Director of the prison towards the inmates, how she handles the authority. A shout was never heard to give an order, it was always a very subtle and direct dialogue with which the instructions that had to be carried out were carried out at the time.
There was a very particular case that touched me and it was that of a mother and daughter who live in separate courtyards (they can only be seen once a month) and at the ceremony the Director gave them the opportunity to meet and greet each other. The blessing of the mother to the daughter fills the heart a lot, and is a great message of how many times we have close things, such as our relatives at home and we do not value it, people who are suddenly so close and at the same time so far (as it is a jail) despite the time they value it so much, it is something that marked me too much.
"It is a great message to see how many times we have things close, to our relatives at home and we do not value it."
One of the inmates served her sentence on Good Friday and after 10 years in that place she was able to leave. The director commented on her process and transformation, and the way she took advantage of her time doing technical and graduate studies during her internship. Seeing her leave was very nice because she looks ready to continue her life and her reincorporation into society. The work they do in the Manizales Women's Penitentiary is noteworthy, since there the inmates can learn an art and trade to return to normalcy and lead quiet lives after serving their sentence.
Something very interesting was the piety and respect of the women in the ceremony, their previous preparation through confession and the desire of many of them after the end of Holy Week to start the process to receive the sacraments, baptism, and even confirmation. marriage. It is nice to see how within their life project they want to get married, start a family and have children once they finish paying their penalty ...
