| Criminal Justice Ministry 'You need only be open to the Holy Spirit' By: Deacon Bob Leibrecht |
|
|
There are 50 facilities of incarceration within the San Angelo diocese. The Catholic population in these federal, state, juvenile and county jails is more than 8,000. With this large incarcerated population, there is an abundant need for volunteers to bring the light of Christ to the darkness in their lives. It is not necessary to be an expert in your faith to minister to the incarcerated, as the Holy Spirit uses each of us if we are open to let Him work. Each facility requires security training before a religious volunteer is allowed to enter. Also, new volunteers are teamed up with other experienced veterans to help make the initial ministry effort a positive experience. It is not necessary to be an expert in your faith to minister to the incarcerated, as the Holy Spirit uses each of us if we are open to let Him work. All that we must bring is our love and commitment of time to spend with them, that is, what is important. I realize that you may be apprehensive about visiting an incarceration facility; however, I can tell you first hand that you can’t imagine the special blessings that God will bestow on those that do offer their time to this ministry. Diocesan Criminal Justice Ministry Besides ministering to the incarcerated, there are many other ways to support the diocesan Criminal Justice Ministry efforts. * There is a need to assist the ex-offender and family so transition back to society can be positive and sustained. * The victims of crime also need support in their healing. * In addition, there are broad social justice issues related to criminal justice with the abolishment of capital punishment being a top priority. * Other diocesan efforts need to focus on prevention and control of crime in the future. Ecumenical Efforts Some Criminal Justice efforts need to take a Catholic focus, while others can be tackled on an ecumenical basis. One such ecumenical effort in terms of ministry to the incarcerated is the Kairos prison ministry retreat program (cookie ministry). There are only a few in the parish that have participated in Kairos; however, each of them can tell you about the special blessings they received. The primary focus of Kairos is to build a Christian community in the prison with an initial three-day retreat being the foundation. During the retreat weekend, the inmates group in table families to begin sharing and praying together. Greater Volunteer Involvement A broader focus for Criminal Justice Ministry in the diocese opens the door for greater volunteer involvement. Because of the many ministry areas, it would be beneficial to establish a parish team to address the various areas of support and ensure adequate resources (people and funds) are available to assist those in need. Jesus calls each of us to get involved and share our faith through love of our neighbor. The spiritual rewards will be great in saying, “Yes”. If you like to get involved, please contact Deacon Bob Leibrecht for more details by calling 432-889-3858 or 432-520-7394 or sending an email. See also, New Life Ministry, offering support and help for the families of the incarcerated. | |
The mission of St. Stephen's Catholic Church is to provide an atmosphere for the spiritual
nurturing of our parish community in a way that realizes the God-given potential in each of us.
4601 Neely Ave., Midland, TX 79707
Mass Times | Education | Youth | Music | Councils
Service | Pastors & Staff | Lay Ministries
©2005-2008 St. Stephen's Catholic Church
