Catholic Charities USA Names Prison Ministry Husband and Wife Team Its 2002 National Volunteers of the Year

Catholic Charities USA
Monday, 22 April 2002

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Catholic Charities USA has named Tom and Kathy Gess its 2002 National Volunteers of the Year for their extraordinary volunteer ministry to inmates, ex-offenders, and families of prisoners through Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge, LA.

The annual award recognizes the important contributions of 168,000 volunteers who provided more than 6.5 million hours of service to Catholic Charities agencies in 2000 and who are the backbone of the Catholic Charities movement. The Gesses will receive the award Aug. 3 at Catholic Charities USA's Annual Conference in Chicago.

"Wherever Tom and Kathy Gess go, they bring hope to those who have no hope," said Deborah Roe, executive director of Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge. "For more than 20 years the Gesses have pledged their lives to social justice activities and to improving the quality of life for countless individuals and families throughout Louisiana who are often forgotten and invisible in their communities."

The husband and wife team has focused their volunteer energies on prison ministry for the past eight years. The Gesses' eyes were opened to the harsh realities of prison life in 1996 when their son was arrested and severely beaten by guards while in jail. The couple felt helpless as they looked for emotional support and practical resources for their son.

Today, Tom and Kathy Gess have turned that helplessness into action. They provide support to prisoners and their families and give voice to those who have no voice in the criminal justice system.

"We are not involved in prison ministry because of our son; he was the catalyst that turned us in that direction," said Kathy Gess. "We realize there are injustices on both sides of the fence, but most people don't care about the lives of the men and women within the system, many of whom are non-violent offenders. The public needs to be educated about what is going on. The people filling up our prisons are someone's sons and daughters, husbands and fathers."

The Gesses work with all religions and people in all walks of life. "We just accept them wherever they are, not so much for what gets them there," says Tom Gess. "People tend to focus on the most violent of offenders and lump all prisoners in that category. We try to have the public see prisoners as human beings."

The prison work of volunteers like the Gesses is especially vital to the Baton Rouge area. "Our diocese has the highest incarceration rates per capita in the country," Roe said. "All but one of the state's penal institutions is in the diocese, plus numerous local jails."

At Catholic Community Services' Joseph Home—a transitional shelter for male ex-offenders—Tom and Kathy interview and screen candidates, talking with them about goals, rules, and family support.

Currently, they are collaborating with the agency's Prison Ministry program to develop a resource book for newly released inmates. In addition, the couple is working with CCS to spread the word and educate the community on the statement by the U.S. and Louisiana Bishops: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice.

The Gesses have revitalized the Louisiana chapter of CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants), an organization that works to reduce crime through criminal justice reform. Working out of their home, they publish and mail 1,000 quarterly newsletters at their own expense.

In addition to serving inmates and their families, the couple often testifies before the legislature on issues such as the death penalty, prison reform, and criminal justice and regularly attends pardon and parole board hearings in the area.

Tom and Kathy also sponsor groups for those with life sentences at both the men's Angola Penitentiary and at the women's correctional facility, and helped organize a children's play corner at Dixon Correctional Institute for visiting children of inmates. They attend Angola's Toastmaster and related meetings, and encourage prisoners to become involved in these types of groups because of the conversion that takes place through the inmate's participation.

"So much are of what they do are small acts of kindness," said Linda Fjeldsjo, coordinator of CCS' Prison Ministry/Joseph Homes. "They thoughtfully send birthday cards to men in prison over the age of 60. Imagine the joy of opening a card after many, many birthdays have gone unnoticed."

Tom and Kathy Gess have been married for more than 35 years, after both were widowed. They have seven children from their previous marriages and 12 grandchildren.

The Gesses were chosen from nearly 30 nominations—including nine other finalists—from local agencies for exemplifying the spirit and mission of Catholic Charities.

"Catholic Charities agencies are able to fulfill their mission thanks to the dedication and service of volunteers—like Tom and Kathy—who give so much of their valuable time, talent, and energy," said Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, president of Catholic Charities USA. "Tom and Kathy are being honored for both their hands-on ministry to inmates and families as well as their work for justice. They have provided a voice for thousands of inmates and their families in Louisiana."

For more information, or to contact Catholic Charities USA, see their website at: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org