Feedback.Q: My most profound experience with a person in prison was ... When the prisoner asked if I would write his mother so she would know he had a friend. Sister Jean Junak, C.S.I. Ishpeming, Mich. I have mentored over 20 women in the past eight years. I followed one woman from jail through two substance abuse programs, attended a one-year sobriety celebration with her in Narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. Anonymous, met her family, and saw her get an apartment and her children back. Helen Brewer Vienna, Va. I worked in a juvenile hall setting. The conditions are worse than anything I could have imagined. Our county jail is also deplorable. I wouldn't want an animal to suffer these conditions, let alone a person. The fact that these kids are forgotten and despised is not OK. Most of them never knew anything but drugs and violence at home. Name withheld Sacramento, Calif. Knowing that one of my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. students ended up in prison for a violent crime and I have never visited him. Peg Borkowski Seattle, Wash. My daughter's friend was actually embarrassed that my daughter and I came to visit, but surprised and grateful that we did so. It was a positive experience for all three of us, and the friend stayed in touch with us for a long time afterwards. Name withheld Marinette, Wis. A friend who had once been told he would never graduate from high school but was actually doing college work in prison. Then the legislature cut the funds. Father George Seuferling Meriden, Kan. My nephew who served time because of violence while drinking. I wish he had help with his problem instead. He couldn't get a job when he was released. Dorothy Holland Sebastian, Fla. The various vigils outside San Quentin San Quentin (săn kwĕn`tən), peninsula extending into San Francisco Bay, W Calif., N of San Francisco. The state prison there was begun in 1852. San Quentin is the western terminus of the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. Prison and the great diversity of good people who prayed, sang, and stood in solidarity with men and women on Death Row. We also reached out to the victims of violence and prayed for their healing. Father John Maxwell John Maxwell may refer to:
El Cerrito El Cerrito (ĕl sərē`tō), city (1990 pop. 22,869), Contra Costa co., W Calif., on San Francisco Bay; inc. 1917. It is primarily residential. Golden Gate Fields Racetrack is nearby. , Calif. Being more hospitably received by the prison community when we came to pray with them than I have been in some parishes. Clifford Yeary Little Rock, Ark. My car went into a ditch in a snowstorm. The person giving me a ride home was the wife of a prisoner on her way home from the state prison. Name withheld Albert Lea Albert Lea (lē), city (1990 pop. 18,310), seat of Freeborn co., S Minn., near the Iowa line; inc. 1878. It is a manufacturing and marketing center in a dairy, livestock, and poultry region. Lea college is located on Lake Chapeau. A state park is nearby. , Minn. Teaching college courses in a minimum security prison and experiencing their respect and willingness to learn--and accepting why they were incarcerated incarcerated /in·car·cer·at·ed/ (in-kahr´ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in·car·cer·at·ed adj. Confined or trapped, as a hernia. . Deacon Norman Hunneyman Sackets Harbor, N.Y.. My son was in prison and I saw how it changed him for the better. He had to face what he had been doing with his life, and he joined an Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), worldwide organization dedicated to the treatment of alcoholics; founded 1935 by two alcoholics, one a New York broker, the other an Ohio physician. group. When he went into prison he wouldn't admit he had a problem. Name withheld San Carlos San Carlos (săn kär`lōs), residential city (1990 pop. 26,167), San Mateo co., W Calif.; inc. 1925. The chief manufactures are plastic products, hardware, and machine parts. , Calif. Talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to a 12-year-old boy who was planning a future behind bars, including a way to get rearrested if he were freed, all to secure an education and establish camaraderie. Shannon Durham Phoenix, Ariz, I was always deeply affected during the drive to and from the prison. A sense of God's presence became more real as contemplated what I was about to do or had just done. Sue Ann Saltarelli Tonawanda, N.Y. Q: I would join a jail or prison ministry if ... I were personally invited. Invitation to ministry means so much. Mary Valenti Forest Hill, Md. There would be adequate training. My experience in any type of ministry is to have education and training before starting. It gives one more confidence in what to expect. Experience is the best teacher, though. Patricia Moeller Millville, Calif. Not if, but when--when I am retired and have time to do it. I would like to use the Little Rock Scripture Study Series videos and maybe the reading materials as part of a Bible study Bible study may refer to:
Kathleen Brennan Boynton, Fla. I was in a prison ministry for about a year, but discovered it was not for me. Now I work in a shelter for homeless families and love it. Kathy Smith Kathy Smith (born December 11,1951) is a personal trainer who became well known for her workout videos during the late-1980s and 1990s. She has sold millions of videos and DVDs. Her first video was released in 1988. She is 5ft 9in and 135 lbs. Westminster, Colo. I could work with women prisoners, not with men. Alicia P. Masterson St. Petersburg, Fla. I discerned that prison ministry was my calling. But I do not believe that every Christian is cut out to engage in this ministry. Name withheld Norfolk, Va. I thought it would be welcomed. I've thought about just having a reading hour--our prison allows books only because it's mandated. Susan B. Jones Maryville, Tenn. It could be structured so that I could participate in a meaningful way given limited time and energy. Mary Ann Gilbert Mary Ann Gilbert (c. 1776 – April 26, 1845[1]): Agronomist. In 1814, Mary Ann Gilbert's uncle Charles Gilbert died. In his Will, he left her much property in Sussex, or to a future husband, if he changed his name to "Gilbert". Winter Park, Fla. I teach full time in a Catholic school. I have no time for myself, since I have a family. If I had time, I would visit the elderly "imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- " in nursing homes. Name withheld Elkins Park, Pa. At this stage in my life I probably wouldn't. Patricia Bailey Moneta, Va. Q: The best thing the church can do to help prisoners is ... Educate its people about injustice in the prison system and what we can do. Everyone isn't called to visit prisoners, but the church can explain alternatives, such as writing letters to the editor, joining groups to end capital punishment capital punishment, imposition of a penalty of death by the state. History Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times; it can be found (c.1750 B.C.) in the Code of Hammurabi. , etc. Lucille Martin Alhambra, Calif. I am pastor of a parish with a prison ministry. The inmates at Jackson Correctional are from all over the state and beyond. We need to establish a statewide prison ministry that will prepare men and women for life after their release and give them support to live good lives. Father Robert A. Streueler Black River Falls There are several places named River Falls in the United States:
Work toward fair and unbiased treatment and sentencing of all offenders. Rich and poor should all receive the same defense. Shirley A. Garriott Evansville, Wyo. Expand our prison ministry to include mentoring and befriending those who have been released from prison. Gloria Hutchinson Brunswick, Maine Help change the laws that imprison im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- people for drug use. Lobby for investment in early childhood education. David J David J. Haskins (b. April 24, 1957, in Northampton, England) is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the seminal gothic rock band Bauhaus. Life and work . Dutschke Louisville, Ky. We must always support those who have made poor choices so that they can see their value as human beings--created and loved by God. How we do this depends upon our locality, our mobility, etc. Joann Simons Spearfish, S.D. Mention them in the prayers of the faithful weekly, even daily. Mary C. Blooming Natrona Heights, Pa. Provide a welcoming, loving church atmosphere into which prisoners can return upon gaining their freedom. Marc Conner Lexington, Va. General Comments Prisons seem to be more warehouses than correctional institutions. We know well that the recidivism recidivism: see criminology. rates of those who earn degrees is a fraction of other convicted felons who do not earn degrees, and yet funding for educational opportunities gets cut rather than expanded. It's criminal. Kathy Cortesio Papageorgiou Rock Island, Ill. This is a terrifically misunderstood and underserved ministry. We also need to be more proactive in providing for released prisoners. Name withheld Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, city (1990 pop. 173,072), seat of Allen co., NE Ind., where the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join to form the Maumee River; inc. 1840. It is the second largest city in the state, a major railroad and shipping point, a wholesale and distribution hub, , Ind. There is a direct connection between the making of war and the making of a prisoner. Traumatized soldiers returning home are often unable to cope with civilian life. Our prisons are filled with such psychologically damaged persons. Name withheld Elmira, N.Y. Restorative justice A philosophical framework and a series of programs for the criminal justice system that emphasize the need to repair the harm done to crime victims through a process of negotiation, mediation, victim empowerment, and Reparation. The U.S. is a concept that's hard to explain to a world that assumes retribution and punishment are always necessary. When people sin or commit a crime, they cut themselves off from God and the community. They need a way back. Daisy Swadesh Farmington, N.M. The most obvious remedy is to try to help prisoners before they get to prison, because the reality is that they receive no rehabilitation in prison, no way to change. Through learning about God's love and forgiveness, perhaps we can help with the start of a conversion process to rehabilitate prisoners' hearts, then their minds, then maybe even their lives. Name withheld Wickliffe, Ohio Wickliffe is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,484 at the 2000 census. Geography Wickliffe is located at (41.609398, -81.472905)GR1. By virtue of their invisibility prisoners are among the neediest of the "least of our brethren," shut away from the world, held in contempt and living at the mercy of guards and one another. They have been reduced to little more than numbers. I believe our nation will be judged on our treatment of the imprisoned. Ann Romero Lake Charles Lake Charles, city (1990 pop. 70,580), seat of Calcasieu parish, SW La.; inc. 1867. It is located on Lake Charles at the mouth of the Calcasieu River in a rice, timber, oil, and natural gas region. , La. The church's mission must extend into prisons. Richard Kircher Beaver Dam, Wis.
AND THE
SURVEY SAYS ...
1. I have visited a jail or
prison at some point
in my life.
agree 60%
disagree 35%
other 5%
2. Someone I know personally
is or has been in jail or
prison.
agree 66%
disagree 32%
other 2%
3. Not all Catholics are
compelled to visit prisoners;
Catholics are free to
choose which works of
mercy best suit them.
agree 80%
disagree 12%
other 8%
4. My parish has a prison
ministry.
yes 19%
no 81%
5. The thing I most fear about
visiting a jail is: (more than
one answer allowed)
58% Not knowing what to
say or how to act.
21% Being taken advantage
of in some way.
19% Meeting people who
are dangerous or
very different from
myself.
17% My physical safety.
9% Race- or class-related
tensions.
25% Other.
6. Rather than physically visit
prisoners, I prefer to satisfy
the gospel mandate by:
(more than one answer
allowed)
55% Praying for those in
prison.
30% Working for prison
reform.
18% Writing letters to
prisoners.
8% Other prison-related
ministries.
32% Other.
Example of "other": I am a
volunteer for an organization
that attends to the needs of
inmates and their families.
These results are based on survey
responses from 183 U.S. CATHOLIC
readers and website visitors.
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