Pastoral work in the prison of Laghouat, Algeria
Jesus invites us to put into practice this Word of the Gospel. “I was a prisoner and you visited me” (Mt 25:36). Jesus sends two of us, Zawadi Barungu and Mari Angeles Yaniz, to the prison in Laghouat. We visit the prisoners there every two weeks. Since Laghouat is 220 km from Ghardaia, we go by car. The prisoners we visit have no relationship with the outside world. Far from their family, their country, without visits, they feel forgotten. Our presence brings them joy and hope. On each visit we meet between 22 and 24 men from different countries, languages, Christians from different churches. It is a joy to go and meet them, we love them and they have great confidence in us. Before the visit we prepare the text of the Sunday Gospel with a little commentary that we look for, a psalm and a prayer, which sometimes they…