Sister Marian Defeis

The prison at Rikers Island had a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. The jail complex was known almost exclusively as a place of violence and chaos. As young Marian Defeis thought about becoming a sister, she never imagined that her ministry would bring her to such a place — and that she would have such an impact there.

Marian Geraldine Defeis grew up in Holy Ghost parish in Brooklyn. It had no parish school, so she and her six siblings attended St. Catherine of Alexandria school run by the Madams of the Sacred Heart. Marian met the Sisters of St. Joseph through Sister Catherine Bernadette, who came to her parish to teach religious education. She met others again at Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School and was drawn to them. After graduating, she joined the congregation on September 6, 1951.

Marian’s early religious life followed the usual pattern. Her first assignment was to teach 73 third graders at Immaculate Conception School in Jamaica! There were other elementary teaching assignments and a time spent at Fontbonne Hall. She also was sent to teach in Puerto Rico. Although she continued teaching, Marian knew it was not where her strengths lay.

After Vatican II when things changed and sisters were able to choose their own ministries, Marian moved into religious education at St. Margaret’s parish in Selden, LI. Meanwhile, she studied theology and earned a master’s degree from Providence College. Yet, something was still pulling her in a different direction. The people she met at St. Margaret’s and then at St. Phillip and James parish were fine, capable people with a desire for a deeper spirituality; yet, she felt impelled to work with poor, marginalized, and oppressed people instead. In a contemplative moment, she received the insight to move to Brooklyn.

It was 1980. Sister Elaine Roulet was establishing Providence House, a convent of welcome where women coming out of prison could live with the sisters and reestablish themselves. Marian joined her and three other sisters there. It was at Providence House that Marian met women who had been incarcerated as well as homeless and battered women.

During summers she volunteered to work in a program that enabled children to spend time with their incarcerated mothers. Marian met these women, lived with some of them and heard their stories. Through the experience of knowing these incarcerated mothers and dealing with the prison guards, she felt drawn to prison ministry.

When she learned that chaplains were needed at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, Marian applied for the position and was hired. She had hoped to be working in the women’s prison, but the open position was with the men instead. It was 1984 and the Rockefeller Drug Laws were in full effect. Marian soon saw the injustice inherent in these laws. Heavy mandatory sentences were imposed for relatively small offenses. She also noted that White men were assigned to rehab, while Black and Latino men were sent to Rikers Island.

During her time at the men’s prison, she learned of abuse going on at a house where men released from prison could stay. She intervened; the abuse was revealed; the house was closed.

After being chaplain for the men for four years, she was asked to move as chaplain to the newly opened facility for women. There, she met “drug mules,” women who had been coerced or tricked into smuggling drugs through Kennedy Airport. Because of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, they were charged with an A1 felony and faced a minimum of 15 years to life in prison or a maximum of 25 years to life, even if they were found with only four ounces of drugs. Marian found this outrageous. She met women like Sonia, who had visited a sick brother in Haiti and was forced to carry drugs on her trip back to her husband and children under threat of death to her family if she did not. She met Janet, whose boyfriend had deceived her by having her carry a container holding drugs in her suitcase. As she learned the stories of these women and their betrayal, her outrage grew. She realized that the only way to correct the injustice was to reform the drug laws. She set to work.

Marian wrote to Governor Mario Cuomo requesting him to investigate the unfairness of the situation. She received no response.

She eventually made a contact within Correctional Association of New York, and it was the key to success. A video was made called Drug Mules. It was shown at the Time Warner Studio. Invited guests included legislators, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, drug enforcement agents, and concerned citizens. A few days after the screening, she received a letter from Governor Cuomo’s office.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Bob Gangi, the Correctional Association took the drug laws as its main focus and ran a successful “Drop the Rock” campaign.

The late Cardinal O’Connor and the bishops of New York state backed her up with a statement calling for a revision of the laws and more drug treatment programs.

After fifteen years of work and advocacy, visiting legislators in Albany and personal magazine interviews, Marian’s work was rewarded. In 2004, the laws were reformed. Now, no one faces 12 or 25 years to life for low-level possession. In 2009, the latest in a series of reforms essentially dismantled New York State’s Rockefeller Drug Laws, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of a range of felony drug charges and increasing eligibility for diversion to treatment.

Another issue Marian confronted was that of solitary confinement. While on Rikers Island, she opposed women being put in solitary confinement. Women in solitary included pregnant women and women who were physically or mentally ill. Marian considered this a severe and counterproductive option. She joined a religious coalition seeking the repeal of solitary confinement laws.

Sister Marian Defeis worked as a chaplain at Rikers Island for 23 years. When she was hired, the Director of Prison Ministry told her: ”There is no book on how to be a chaplain. Just follow the lead of the Spirit.” Marian feels that her life has been led by the Spirit who has impelled her forward from teaching, to parish ministry to retreat director, to chaplaincy at Rikers Island. During that journey, she has been an advocate for the voiceless, a spiritual guide, a counselor, and a compassionate friend to all who needed her. Looking back, she considers herself to be the most fortunate one — fortunate to have been of service to so many. To those whose lives she has touched, she has been a beacon of hand a bright spot in the darkness. “For I was imprisoned and you visited me.”