Just Everyday Life with Petitcodiac Mennonite Church

As the vehicle drew closer to the building, the people in the van could read the sign – “Petitcodiac Mennonite Church – All are welcome!”

The atmosphere in the van was almost palpable – one of great anxiety. A man in the back felt a tightness in his chest and couldn’t catch his breath. Was he having a heart attack? “They know where we are from, right?” asked another passenger. The driver smiled and caught his eyes in the rear-view mirror, “Yeah,” he said reassuringly, “they know where you’re from.”

The church becomes the first idea of a safe place for some of them.

Gord Driedger is pastor at Petitcodiac Mennonite Church (PMC) and a chaplain at Dorchester Penitentiary, a minimum-security prison in the area. Because Dorchester is a “releasing institution,” it is a place that helps people to be ready to leave institutional life and return to society. As a part of that process, Gord sets up “escorted temporary absences” so the men are able to go to places outside of the prison. Two Sundays a month, Gord brings a group to Petitcodiac Mennonite Church.

“The men aren’t used to being with people outside of the prison,” explains Gord. “Often they are unsure if they can even talk to people. The church becomes the first idea of a safe place for some of them.”

Jim*, who has been in prison for the past 37 years, came with Gord to Petitcodiac Mennonite Church on a potluck Sunday. Jim’s parents, who live a distance away from the prison, have been faithful visitors to the prison to see their son. They leapt at the chance to see Jim in this supervised, escorted visit to Petitcodiac Mennonite Church. “It was the first time Jim and his parents have been together outside of the prison in 37 years!” says Gord. “They shared a meal together in the church and we felt so privileged to be there and share that experience with them.”

Petitcodiac Mennonite Church has a long history of relationship with the Dorchester penitentiary. Siegfried Janzen who pastored at Petitcodiac from 1985-1995 volunteered at the prison alongside many in the congregation. Siegfried’s legacy lives on through the Siegfried Janzen Award given to outstanding volunteers at the Dorchester penitentiary. Siegfried’s work at Dorchester not only set the stage for Gord to be involved there, but also provided a strong foundation for the church’s involvement.

Petitcodiac Mennonite Church also has a long history of supporting the local community. The food pantry in Petitcodiac is organized by PMC and is a place where local produce is sold for reasonable prices; a place to make organic food available to everyone. There is a community table at the pantry where people bring produce to share. 

“There are several guys who have amazing gardens in the yard at Dorchester,” says Gord. During harvest time, Gord takes 150-200 pounds of vegetables each week from the prison to the community table at the pantry. “It is significant for the men to give back to society by sharing the bounty of their gardens with those who are in need,” says Gord. “The church is able to help facilitate that and also help people to see their worth and value in the world.”

What makes the church work properly is the relationships that you have with people.

“Often the hardest thing for men in prison is to be able to find some grace for themselves,” Gord says. He recalls a story of a man who was serving a life sentence. The man was lying in bed one night, unable to sleep and hating himself. “There is no place that I belong except in prison,” he thought. “There is no place that will ever accept me.” He shared with Gord that it was in that moment that he thought about Gord and about the small church. He realized there was a place where he could go and people would love and accept him. He was then able to sleep.

“The people at PMC have really embraced the role of making these guys just feel at home. The congregation is remarkable. The people in the congregation walk alongside the men. They’re not trying to save them. They’re not trying to astound them. They’re just walking with them,” says Gord. “What makes the church work properly isn’t necessarily the good theology or the strong preaching - it’s the relationships that you have with people. It is the love that you have for each other and from that, everything else flows.”