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Fr. Estevan Wetzel is taking on two very different roles this fall; one he planned for, one he didn’t. Both involve a core aspect of any priest’s mission: sharing Jesus and the beauty of the Catholic faith, seeing the Lord water those seeds and helping others experience the peace, joy and fullness of a walk with God in this life, amid their joys and struggles. Neither of his new ministries fall within the traditional church setting.

ROME (CNS) -- As Pope Francis poured water over their feet, dried them with a towel and kissed their feet, 12 women inmates at Rome's Rebibbia prison wept. The pope celebrated the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper March 28 at the women's prison under a tent set up outside. The 12 women whose feet were washed by Pope Francis during the liturgy sat on stools on a raised platform so the pope, who has difficulty walking, could wash their feet while seated in his wheelchair.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will go to Venice in April to visit a women's prison where the Holy See has set up its pavilion for the Venice Biennale, a major international contemporary art exhibition. The pope will make the one-day trip April 28, according to a joint press release Feb. 13 from the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Patriarchate of Venice. He will visit the Holy See pavilion at the Giudecca women's prison, and he will meet with the church community of the patriarchate, it said. Details of the final program were to be "announced soon."

Silvia Starrs is a prison ministry volunteer and knows the incarcerated and their families by name. She accompanies them, meeting their spiritual, physical and emotional needs. “In prison, there's lots of broken hearts. Not just the prisoners, but also their families. We love meeting their needs, helping to build bridges back to the families.” One child that Starrs mentored through prison ministry really touched her heart. At the time, she didn’t know how she’d mentor Angelina while working and raising her children, but the Lord had a different plan. “God put her there. I knew that was love at first sight. When you say ‘yes’ to our Lord, He works all things out.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Song and music are gifts capable of touching the hearts of young people, drawing them out of spirals of anxiety and bringing them closer to God, Pope Francis said. Greeted with song Dec. 30 by young people from the International Foundation of Pueri Cantores -- an organization that promotes sacred music and the formation of children in choirs for liturgical singing -- the pope praised the young vocalists for helping others pray and open their hearts to God, which is "fundamental for the life of the church."

For many Catholics, Advent means the glow of candles, a penance service at the parish and celebrations centered on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Family gatherings with loved ones, decorating the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts make it a festive season that spreads warmth and joy. For inmates at Kingman Correctional Facility, the dark days of December are a different story. Marianne Meyer and Ray Martin of St. Mary’s Parish in Kingman have been visiting inmates housed at the prison during the last six months, praying with inmates, bringing them the Eucharist and encouraging them.

PHOENIX --- Men from the south-central Phoenix area, including many who have served prison time for criminal offenses, gathered with their families and friends...

Just days after Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, was sentenced to 26 years in prison, Pope Francis expressed concern over his condition.

A Ukrainian woman with her young son presented Pope Francis with several gifts and the names of Ukrainian prisoners of war, including her husband's.

Pope Francis is writing to all the heads of state around the world, asking them to consider granting some prisoners clemency at Christmas.