Prison Books Food For Thought

[MichaelaCross12]

I read a posting about a person who’s dad died and he inherited his dads belongings.

In these belongings was a book on Mary and the Angels.

The dad had 5 copies of this book and so the son thought perhaps it was a sign.

Picking up the book and shuffling through it he decided against it.

I got to thinking. Where did these five books go after that?

Sure when we buy books for friends and relatives and individuals we are evangelizing one human at a time and we HOPE these books get passed down. But in some cases they end right then and there with that one person. For a long time anyway.

What happens when you donate a religious paperback book to any prison anywhere?

Can you imagine?

How many hands that one book will reach over how many years and how many minds could be nourished.

Food For Thought.

In addition to this when donating prison books, please consider that some do not have regulations on topics. Some simply ask for fiction books.
Please consider what content you are sending.

There are lists located all over the internet from various prisons.
I really like to keep in mind the ones specifically asking for religious books on their list of books requesting.
“Ask and you shall receive”.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Also make sure whether the prison has any restrictions on where the books come from. The last time I sent books to a guy in prison, I had to order them through Amazon or similar and have the company send him the books. I was not permitted to send him a used book directly from me.

 

[Victoria33]

We had the luck of having a priest who would sometimes “sub” saying mass at the parish, maybe he’d do it once a week at the Friday mass. He was also a prison chaplain at one of the state penitentiaries. We were able to get some religious materials to the prisoners.

What we mainly sent over were MI, Militia Immaculata brochures, the one on Redemptive Suffering (offering up suffering to God). Some of the brochures we had, we distributed Miraculous Medals with… but I don’t think we were able to give them the medals, you know how it is.

Anyway, one can look it up on the web, Militia of the Immaculata but be creative, there are a whole lot of brief booklets, brochures out there for various causes.

 

[graciew]

Contacting Correctional Ministries in your Archidiocese may help with info and distribution of books .
Your priest may know Correctional Ministries parish members who may also help with info about requirements and distribution in the facilities they serve.
Catholic Bibibles are sometimes needed in jail as well. Usually ( but it depends on the facility) no hard covers, no color pages, nothing written on them.
The Magnifícat may be used as well ( even from past months) if allowed by the facility.Sometimes a parish secretary may lend a hand receiving them during the week ( first week of the month so than one can leave the last month’s Magnificat)and a volunteer picks them up at the end of that week. Ideas…
If allowed in through the Ministers( which may not be the case, again it depends)books are normally examined one by one. So it helps if the donors check them according to requirements before donating.
It is a beautiful ministry as well aside from donating books,if one has that calling and time to give on a regular basis .

 

[vivnes]

Many people are moved in their heart by truth in prison. A part, are called but not chosen as yet, another part are converted. Its a good circumstance for God to intervene, we knowing that he saves us in mercy, in our lowest, rather by our merits.

I would say that in the red states, the prisons most likely have less rules on what types of books to bring in. I know in Wyoming and Montana, two county jails that just have no criticism on that issue. But Texas prisons have a strong focus toward punishment. (No free soap, no air conditioning)