Sheriff's department thanks diocesan jail ministry

IC photo/Linda Petersen

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Members of the diocesan jail ministry gather Nov. 30 outside the Oxbow Jail in Salt Lake County to receive thanks from the Salt Lake County Sheriff?s Department.

SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s jail ministry recently received gifts from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s office to thank them for the work they do for the prisoners at Oxbow Jail. On Nov. 30, Deacon Joaquin Mixco, the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s coordinator of Detention Ministry for Salt Lake County; Father Eleazar Silva of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish; and Michelle Beesley, a member of the jail ministry, met outside the jail with corrections officers to accept insulated coffee mugs for all of the ministers.

“There are certain things that we provide the people who are in our facility: food, medical, beds, mental health services, programming, but what you all provide is the one thing we can’t, and that is hope,” Deputy Chief Matt Dumont said. “I think over the last few months we’ve really seen exactly how much we miss you and your presence in our facility.”

While at the jail, Fr. Silva offered a blessing on the officers, the department and the inmates. The jail ministry has been paused during the pandemic because of safety concerns for the ministers, staff and inmates. Their support has been sorely missed, said Sgt. Benjamin Page, programs division.

Deacon Mixco said the ministry is looking at ways to develop a liturgical connection to the inmates as the pandemic continues. The ministers have also really missed being able to serve the inmates, he said. Sgt. Page expressed appreciation for their efforts.