Prison/Jail Ministry

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LaFleurDeLis

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While going through RCIA this year I felt a calling to begin a prison/ jail ministry. I’m a Criminal Justice major and couldn’t avoid the signs I kept getting while reading my textbooks about jail ministries, etc. I loved RCIA and want nothing more than to be able to share the same experience with inmates. I plan on becoming an Extraordinary Minitster so that I can take inmates communion (only those in full communion with the Church of course.) My boyfriend and I plan on getting married, our true vocation. However, I’ve found myself craving more, and I think this is God calling me. I just don’t know how to go about starting this sort of thing. I have talked to leader of my RCIA program and he tried to get me in touch with a local Deacon who is involved in this, but I have yet to hear anything from him. I’ve also spoken with my priest, who loves the idea, but again nothing has come of it. I know that these people are busy, I just wish I could get the ball rolling on this. Any suggestions? Is anyone else involved in anything like this?
 
You might check out this web-site.

kairosprisonministry.org/

I have a lady friend of ours who works in this ministry. She is very impressed with its work.

G-d bless you for taking on this special work of mercy.
 
You might want to check out the PA Prison Society, the oldest social justice group in America. It is a good resource though it is totally secular. I went through their training a number of years ago to become an Official Prison Visitor. Prison ministry is very difficult and I wish you well. It was clearly not my vocation.

prisonsociety.org/index.shtml
 
You can also contact the prison/jail ministry coordinator at the prison, and they will be able to give you info as to who to contact and a background check that usually has to be done first. It is a wonderful thing to be able to bring the Gospel to those incarcerated and prayerfully, you can make a difference. May God bless you on your “on fire” desire!

Relentless:thumbsup:
 
God bless you for your interest in such a ministry to people in jail or in prison.
We tend to forget that sin deserves the eternal punishment of HELLFIRE and
we are ALL sinners, yet we relish seeing people who break SOCIETY’s laws
get thrown behind bars for life. Violating God’s Law is INFINITELY worse than violating
the Law of the Land, and ALL people do that, and most people never spend a day in jail or prison. Jails and prisons are NOT places where lawbreakers are “coddled,” despite the rhetoric of politicians pretending to be “tough on crime” at election-time. American
Jails and prisons are Satanic Hell Holes filled with horrific gang activity, murderous racism, drug abuse and addiction, widespread gang rape, beatings, stabbings, blasphemy and frequent murders. The brutality is simply mindboggling.
And they put teenagers and nonviolent people together with hardened brutal people.
If you don’t believe me, watch LOCKUP on MSNBC sometime.
A ministry of the gospel to these people is absolutely vital, as is prayer for the repentance and conversion of all inmates. Chuck Colson started a ministry to them decades ago. It is good to know that Catholics are involved in this as well.
And pray for Mr. Russell Ford, an innocent inmate locked up in prison in Alabama. He is a Catholic apologist.
 
JamestheOlder said:
You might check out this web-site.

kairosprisonministry.org/

I have a lady friend of ours who works in this ministry. She is very impressed with its work.

G-d bless you for taking on this special work of mercy.
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Thank you! I’ve heard of Kairos before, however the only problem I have is that it is non-denominational. I really want to be involved with a Catholic only ministry. When I was told that the Catholic Church was “THE” Church created by Jesus Christ, I knew I didn’t belong anywhere else. That’s what I want to share and I don’t think I can do that if I have Baptist sitting right next to me! :rotfl:
 
I suggest that you phone your diocese. From what I’ve been told, Catholic prison ministry is coordinated at the diocesan level, and volunteers need to attend workshops before they can be assigned. Sometimes there are months between workshops for new volunteers. I hope you get hooked up soon!
 
LaFleurDeLis said:
While going through RCIA this year I felt a calling to begin a prison/ jail ministry. I’m a Criminal Justice major and couldn’t avoid the signs I kept getting while reading my textbooks about jail ministries, etc. I loved RCIA and want nothing more than to be able to share the same experience with inmates. I plan on becoming an Extraordinary Minitster so that I can take inmates communion (only those in full communion with the Church of course.) My boyfriend and I plan on getting married, our true vocation. However, I’ve found myself craving more, and I think this is God calling me. I just don’t know how to go about starting this sort of thing. I have talked to leader of my RCIA program and he tried to get me in touch with a local Deacon who is involved in this, but I have yet to hear anything from him. I’ve also spoken with my priest, who loves the idea, but again nothing has come of it. I know that these people are busy, I just wish I could get the ball rolling on this. Any suggestions? Is anyone else involved in anything like this?
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I have been involved in a Prison Ministry for around the last 3 years. I run a Smart Recovery program, Fathers Group and am involved in a program called Residents Encounter Christ which is popular in the New England/NY states.

I would suggest starting at the diocese level, and find out who are the Catholic Chaplains in your local prisons. In New England the volunteers I work with (around 40 or so) are more organized around the Chaplains than the diocese. The diocese can connect you with the Chaplains/Deacons in the prisons.

I think you will find this work extremely rewarding and demanding. I go in once a week, plus the 3 day retreats around 1 every 2 months. It is amazing to make a difference to someone’s life like this, and wish you all the success in this world with this mission.

I am in the process of starting work on my Master of Arts in Ministry to help build up my theological and evangelization skills over the next few years. You will love the people you meet in this ministry, I am heading out on our first Motorcyclists Encouter Christ Pilgirmage this weekend to the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA. Other volunteers are my buddies on this trip.
 
LaFleurDeLis said:
While, I just wish I could get the ball rolling on this. Any suggestions? Is anyone else involved in anything like this?
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be patient, this time of year sometimes programs are winding down, but training may beginning for new ones. Your background is in your favor. You probably have to go through a training with the diocese, and with the state or county who administer the facilities where you will be working, pass a criminal background check, and also be certified to do the actual ministry, teaching, counselling or whatever. Best and fastest route is to go through channels. God bless you, you are sorely needed.
 
LaFleurDeLis said:
While going through RCIA this year I felt a calling to begin a prison/ jail ministry. I’m a Criminal Justice major and couldn’t avoid the signs I kept getting while reading my textbooks about jail ministries, etc. I loved RCIA and want nothing more than to be able to share the same experience with inmates. I plan on becoming an Extraordinary Minitster so that I can take inmates communion (only those in full communion with the Church of course.) My boyfriend and I plan on getting married, our true vocation. However, I’ve found myself craving more, and I think this is God calling me. I just don’t know how to go about starting this sort of thing. I have talked to leader of my RCIA program and he tried to get me in touch with a local Deacon who is involved in this, but I have yet to hear anything from him. I’ve also spoken with my priest, who loves the idea, but again nothing has come of it. I know that these people are busy, I just wish I could get the ball rolling on this. Any suggestions? Is anyone else involved in anything like this?
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A couple of links in the state

stjohnparish.org/prison.php

[The Catholic Accent(name removed by moderator)risonministry.aspx](http://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/accent/Pages/7-22-2010IndianaCountyparishioner(name removed by moderator)risonministry.aspx)

st.ambrosechurch.com/prison.html

archindy.org/criterion/local/2011/05-06/s-prison.html
 
quiet52: I just sent something to my diocese requesting how I can get involved. Thanks for the suggestions!

puzzleannie: I figured there would be some sort of training and knew for sure there would be a background check involved. I should pass with flying colors. I’m a security guard and the company I work for did a very in depth check. It took about a month to get hired! Crazy.

Onedayatatime: Thanks for the links, they’re really helpful!

I’m hoping all of this will get my foot in the door and I can make this happen and really make some waves!
 
Just got a reply from someone in the Diocese who put me into contact with a priest at one of my local parishes. I’ll be giving him a call tomorrow and get the ball rolling on this thing!:extrahappy:
 
God bless you in your desire to minister to those behind bars. Remember the old folk mass hymn “Then Comes the Morning”? A full verse is dedicated to those forgotten in prison placed in the context of the crucifixion. It’s so easy for us to remove ourselves from those who are suffering in ways that we’re not comfortable with.

All souls are in need of prayers.
 
I have been in prison ministry for 11/2 years. I can say that it is one of my favorite ways of showing the love of Christ. It certainly is easy to maintain the proper disposition because other than one other person who accompanies me, there is no outside recognition. Our hearts are right when it comes to this apostolate.

It was quite an ordeal to get approved by the officials at the prison, the sheriff, jailers and warden. But once that was done the weekly visitations to one of the local jails began. Since that time a second jail has opened its doors to a larger group of us volunteers. In our case it was sorta a learn as you go approach.

Prison ministry can be extremely rewarding, but if you believe everything you hears far as plans by the prisoners who are released, you can be terribly disappointed when they return to prison for the same reasons. Take each day as its own opportunity to be the love of Jesus and the ministry does bring wonderful conversions.

Keep your spirits up and God will definitely bless your efforts. Pray for us here in Acadia Parish Louisiana as we go to prison ministry on Sunday and Thursday.

In Christ,

Stan
 
skeyes said:
I have been in prison ministry for 11/2 years. I can say that it is one of my favorite ways of showing the love of Christ. It certainly is easy to maintain the proper disposition because other than one other person who accompanies me, there is no outside recognition. Our hearts are right when it comes to this apostolate.

It was quite an ordeal to get approved by the officials at the prison, the sheriff, jailers and warden. But once that was done the weekly visitations to one of the local jails began. Since that time a second jail has opened its doors to a larger group of us volunteers. In our case it was sorta a learn as you go approach.

Prison ministry can be extremely rewarding, but if you believe everything you hears far as plans by the prisoners who are released, you can be terribly disappointed when they return to prison for the same reasons. Take each day as its own opportunity to be the love of Jesus and the ministry does bring wonderful conversions.

Keep your spirits up and God will definitely bless your efforts. Pray for us here in Acadia Parish Louisiana as we go to prison ministry on Sunday and Thursday.

In Christ,

Stan
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Wow, that’s amazing! I will be keeping you in my prayers. Please keep me in yours, that I may succeed in bringing the word of God to those imprisioned!
 
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