Walking with Jesus Behind the Gates: A Retreat with BuCor Officers

Angel Allego
Jul 31
3 min read

From July 24 to 26, thirty-seven officers from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) entered a space of deep silence, stillness, and sacred encounter. The gathering unfolded within a quiet rhythm—one shaped not by rigid schedules but by the gentle movement of grace. What began as a simple invitation to silence became, for many, a turning point. Many left with softened gazes and awakened spirits. They did not just attend a retreat, they entered a journey. The echoes of friendship, desire, and hope will remain with them, rippling into lives behind bars and beyond.

Friendship with Jesus: Encountering the Familiar in the Hidden

We began by inviting participants to rediscover Jesus—not as a distant figure, but as someone who walks quietly through the halls, corridors, dorms, and “gola” of the security camps. Within moments, many officers entered into silence, not as a sign of emptiness but of hearts made receptive. In that stillness, Jesus was no longer a theory. He was God who forgave them time and again, and in that mercy, they found the strength to forgive the people who hurt them, and even their very selves.

What began as reflection became encounter. In the hush, they met a Friend who held their burdens, kindled their hope, and remained familiar even in the hidden. Peace settled into the depths of their hearts, not because all answers were given, but because the One who walks with them remains, even as they wonder: Will my next assignment take me away from my family?

Desire in Jesus: Rekindling the Flame

Friday centered on the theme of desire, not ambition nor yearning for escape, but the sacred ache for union with Christ. In moments of personal prayer, group sharing, individual conversation, and silent waiting (if only all of you could witness them during the retreat) I believe that there was a flame flickered in many: the desire to be more, not just for themselves and those entrusted to their care, but most importantly to their respective beloved families. Jesus was no longer a theory and ideal, they saw Him as companion, co-sufferer, and source of strength and motivation.

Hope in Jesus: Becoming Bearers of Light

By Saturday, hope became a shared, lived experience. Through the Eucharistic celebrations, testimonies of inner renewal, and moments of silent recognition, the officers glimpsed how hope can take root: first within themselves, then within their families, and ultimately within their workplaces.

In Christ, they learned to reinterpret hardship not as misfortune, but as hidden grace, a blessing from above. Even punishment became, in their eyes, the protective hand of God, guiding and forming them. Broken lives, once seen as tragic, were now understood as instruments of transformation and vessels through which change and healing could flow.

They were introduced to the Ignatian Gospel Contemplation that helped them make sense of their journey. In the stillness of prayer, many found clarity of purpose and rediscovered their personal mission—their unique calling.

Conclusion

In the spirit of St. Ignatius, a soldier turned seeker, BuCor officers stepped into silence, choosing to disconnect from duty and reconnect with grace.

At the Sacred Heart Novitiate, they met Jesus not as a distant figure, but as Friend, Flame, and Light. There, in the stillness, they were invited to let go, not of their vocation, but of the inner fear that they might be sent far from the ones they hold most dear.

They received a special grace: the consolation that Jesus is with them, will never abandon them, and will care for their families even across distance and duty. It was more than comfort—it was communion.

In the quiet, love was not lost; it was rediscovered. A love that includes their deepest attachments, entrusted now to Christ who walks ahead and alongside.

Hope did not end with prayer; it began there. Behind the gates, compassion pulses where burdens once lay. Mercy has found its face in the hearts of those who have learned that letting go can sometimes mean holding on to what truly matters.

Noteworthy:

The retreat offered hope-filled reflections rooted in prison ministry (PJPS), Ignatian practices of discernment (CIS), and grassroots spirituality (CLC). It became a rare and powerful space of Jesuit collaboration—bridging ministries and inviting convergence between Church and government sectors. Themes of reintegration, healing, and social transformation emerged as shared touchstones.