By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
Bishop Alfred Schlert celebrated Mass on Corpus Christi Sunday June 3 with inmates at SCI-Mahanoy (State Correctional Institution-Mahanoy), Frackville.
Bishop Schlert talked about regardless of where the inmates came from, they are part of his flock and he brings the love of the entire Diocese with him.
“The inmates were excited and really appreciated the Bishop’s visit,” said Father Jason Stokes, who invited Bishop Schlert to the prison and then organized the evening liturgy
with SCI-Mahanoy.
The feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated the Thursday after Trinity Sunday to solemnly commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist.
Father Stokes is Catholic chaplain at four prisons, where he celebrates Mass and hears confessions at the institutions: SCI-Mahanoy, Mass and confessions every Sunday evening; SCI-Frackville, Mass and confessions every Friday morning; FCI-Schuylkill (Federal Correctional Institution), Minersville, Mass and confessions every Tuesday afternoon; and Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville, Mass and confessions monthly.
Father Stokes is also pastor of Most Blessed Trinity, Tremont.
SCI-Mahanoy is a 1,000-cell, all male, medium-security correctional facility along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. Construction began in July 1991 and it opened in 1993.
