When lives of conviction lead to prison: nuns incarcerated for SOA protest share long Christian tradition - Franciscan sisters Gwen and Dorothy Hennessey imprisoned following School of the Americas protest

National Catholic Reporter, Jan 25, 2002

Oct. 23

When I arrived in the dining room, C. said, "I'm lucky to be here today." Last night after the midnight count, she got UP and went to the bathroom at 12:30. At 1:26 the guard woke her and told her to do a "drop" [give a urine specimen] and, of course, she couldn't. After six cups of water she still couldn't urinate. (They call this stalling.) She was threatened they would call the lieutenant and take her to the county jail. Under the tension she threw up the water and had to clean it up, drank the rest of the water and finally was able to go under the eagle eyes of the guard at 2:56 a.m. just before the 3 a.m. count. Not much sleep for C. the rest of the night. Two other women were random checked also. It could have been me.

Nov. 1

Last night's party was a blast. I won first prize on my costume -- a cave woman draped in a skimpy white sheet. With hair ratted and a big bone in my unkempt hair -- everything smudged with shoe polish. (D. says it's good for the complexion. She is a master at artfully improvising.) Another thing -- my hair and clothing were covered with curled-up dried leaves. We even had caramel apples rolled in nuts.

From Dorothy

Nov. 6

Today is voting day. My charge is a simple misdemeanor, not a felony. So f went down to vote, across the street.

I have moved out of the Holy Family Hall infirmary back to Elm Street Corrections. Of course, I'm still a prisoner until Jan. 14. Instead of writing to me, please write to your reps in Congress, requesting the dosing of the "School of Assassins." Thanks for all the encouragement.

From Gwen

Nov. 22

We received a letter from Prince of Peace fourth grade Christian Doctrine class, Chesapeake, Va., addressed to "Our Maryknoll Friends in Prison." The salutation: "Dear Ladies." Young Patrick says, "It seems like a bad reason to get arrested." Out of the mouths of babes.

Dec. 4

Frank Cordaro [a priest and peace activist who has served five six-month prison sentences] sent a "mind picture" from his past for us: "Soon you'll be free -- but, oh, those last days can crawl along. I remember them well. Time just seems to stretch out longer and longer as your out date gets closer and closer. Hang in there."

Dec. 17

The guard came through around 9 p.m. and saw "Supervixen" on the locker. He said that looks like a man. I nodded from my couch-bed and quickly added, "That's not my book!" The cover was a huge picture of a Mrs. Charles Atlas type in a skimpy red bathing suit flexing her arms K., my roommate, had ordered this and others from a prison book resource gifts-to-prisoners.

Dec. 19

A blast for C. She served three years of her 10 and now she is innocent -- total reverse of her sentence and home free, no felon -- and with her little daughter for Christmas. It's now 3 p.m. and C. is taking the 4 p.m. bus to Detroit.

Dec. 21

This afternoon a whole group of staff, guards and a volunteer came around passing out a huge bag of goodies. It was sort of like the governors of Tennessee and Virginia on the rails in Appalachia throwing out candies from the train. I found it demeaning, but it was a tradition folks looked forward to each year. These guys, especially Mr. S. and other men, wanted us to sing for them before we got our treats. No one responded to the performance request, but they gave us the bags anyway.