Table Of ContentSOCIETY
OF
SAINT
VINCENT
DE
PAUL
PRISON
APOSTOLATE
JAIL
MINISTRY
HANDBOOK
MISSION
STATEMENT
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is:
to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.
VALUES
The
Mission
of
the
Society
of
St.
Vincent
de
Paul
implies
that
as
Vincentians,
we:
See
Christ
in
anyone
who
suffers
Come
together
as
a
family
Have
personal
contact
with
the
poor
Help
in
all
possible
ways
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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
TITLE
PAGE
NO.
Introduction……...…………………………………………………………………
4
Prison
Ministry
Prayer………………………………………………………….
5
Part
I
–
Starting
A
Prison
Ministry………………………………………..
6
The
Mandate
For
Prison
Ministry…………………………………………
7
Why
Prison
Ministry................................................................
7
Goals
of
Prison
Ministry……………………………………………………….
7
Have
you
Been
Called………………………………………………………….
8
Spiritual
Qualifications…………………………………………………………
8
Steps
to
Starting
Your
Ministry…………………………………………….
10
Part
II
–
Performing
Jail
Ministry………………………………………….
13
What
Is
Your
Role………………………………………………………………..
14
Preparation………………………………………………………………………….
14
Guidelines
For
Visiting
Inmates……………………………………………
15
Conducting
A
Group
Program………………………………………………
16
Inmate
Characteristics…………………………………………………………
18
General
Safety
Information…………………………………………………
19
Part
III-‐
Mentoring
Ex-‐Offenders………………………………………….
20
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………
25
Appendix
“A”
–
Communion
Service…………………………………….
26
Appendix
“B”
–
Available
Resources…………………………………….
29
Appendix
“C”
–
Suggested
Reading………………………………………
30
References…………………………………………………………………………..
31
HANDBOOK
PREPARED
DEC.
2013
BY
THE
PRISON
APOSTOTLATE
COMMITTEE
OF
THE
ONTARIO
REGIONAL
COUNCIL
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St. Vincent de Paul visits the prisoners
(Bonnat)
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INTRODUCTION
Having
adopted
Saint
Vincent
de
Paul
as
the
Society’s
patron,
our
prison
ministry,
historically,
can
be
traced
back
to
the
time
of
his
appointment
in
1619
as
“Chaplain
of
prisons
and
of
the
slaves
rowing
the
galleys”
by
Count
de
Gondi.
(SSVP
The
Rule
and
Statues
5.2.)
In
keeping
with
the
logo
of
the
Society
of
Saint
Vincent
de
Paul,
“Serviens
in
Spe”,
translated
as
“Serving
in
Hope”,
the
primary
role
of
the
Prison
Apostolate
ministry
is
to
deliver
that
hope
to
inmates
incarcerated
in
local
jails,
provincial
and
federal
correctional
facilities
and
also
to
ex-‐
offenders
released
into
the
community.
This
manual
is
a
training
guide
for
jail
and
prison
ministry
volunteers.
• Visiting
one-‐on-‐one
with
inmates,
if
permitted
by
the
institution.
• Ministering
in
group
services,
special
programs,
or
bible
studies.
• Providing
post-‐prison
ministry
upon
an
inmate’s
release
into
the
community.
It
includes
instruction
on
safety
codes,
inmate
characteristics
and
how
to
relate
to
inmates
in
such
a
way
that
they
will
be
attracted
to
the
Gospel
message.
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PRISON
MINISTRY
PRAYER
It
is
recommended
that
the
following
prayer
be
read
immediately
before
visitation:
Lord, you fell three times under the cross, but You got
up three times; teach me to help prisoners rise up
again! I may never have been in prison, Lord, but I
often wonder what I have done to merit the freedom I
have. At least I have something in common with the
prisoners because I too have often yielded to
temptation. Give me the light to see the dignity in each
human being, even in those men and women who have
lost the esteem of others. Give me the wisdom to
comfort, to counsel and console without seeming self-
righteous or patronizing. Help me, Lord, to be genuine
and sincere, to be understanding and humble. If I can
help, show me how. If I cannot help, at least I can
befriend. If I cannot befriend, at least I can show I care.
No matter how I am received, even with cynicism and
resentment, give me the strength and courage to bring
You closer to those men and women who need You in
their loneliness. Amen.
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PART
ONE
STARTING
A
PRISON
MINISTRY
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THE
SCRIPTURAL
MANDATE
“I
was
in
prison
and
you
visited
me.”
Matthew
25:36
This
is
a
key
directive
from
Christ
to
act
with
compassion
and
love
for
those
incarcerated.
The
bible
refers
to
prison,
prisoners,
or
imprisonment
more
than
130
times.
Chaplains
cannot
do
all
of
the
necessary
work
themselves,
as
there
is
just
not
enough
time.
For
every
person
incarcerated,
there
are
three
to
five
other
people
affected
including
partners,
children,
parents,
and
friends.
Inmates
and
their
families
represent
a
large
segment
of
society
in
any
culture.
THE
VINCENTIAN
MANDATE
Prison
Ministry
is
included
in
the
list
of
the
Special
Works
of
the
Society
as
we
respond
to
the
needs
of
Social
Justice.
(Rule
2.7.1)
In
cooperation
with
the
prison
authorities
including
the
prison
chaplain,
Vincentians
may
receive
permission
to
visit
jails.
They
arrange
opportunities
for
Eucharistic
prayer
services,
the
Sacrament
of
Reconciliation,
and
spiritual
counseling.
Walking
the
hallways
and
ranges
of
the
prison,
and
inquiring
about
the
physical
and
spiritual
needs
of
the
inmates
as
well
as
those
of
their
loved
ones
is
permitted
in
some
institutions
and
are
some
of
the
ways
that
Vincentians
may
serve.
(Rule
2.7.5)
GOALS
OF
PRISON
MINISTRY
Spiritual
Goals:
• To
share
the
unconditional
love
of
God.
• To
present
the
Gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
in
such
a
way
that
inmates
will
embrace
it.
• To
demonstrate
the
power
of
prayer
and
teach
them
to
pray.
• To
lead
inmates
to
experience
the
life-‐changing
power
and
love
of
God
that
will
free
them
from
guilt,
shame,
negative
emotions,
and
addictions.
Social
Goals:
• To
help
the
inmate
function
more
positively
within
the
prison
environment.
• To
provide
a
link
between
the
community
and
incarcerated
persons.
• To
prepare
inmates
mentally
and
spiritually
for
re-‐entry
into
society.
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HAVE
YOU
BEEN
CALLED?
Those
who
minister
with
inmates
must
be
sure
of
their
relationship
with
Christ.
A
suggestion
to
anyone
interested
in
prison
ministry
is
to
read
the
gospel
sections
which
relate
the
story
of
Jesus
as
a
prisoner
(Matt
26-‐28,
Mark
14-‐16,
Luke
22-‐24,
and
John
17-‐20).
As
you
discern
if
God
has
called
you
to
Prison
Ministry,
it
may
be
helpful
to
review
the
expected
qualifications
below.
SPIRITUAL
QUALIFICATIONS
COURAGE:
Entering
a
jail
or
prison
to
minister-‐-‐whether
on
a
one-‐to-‐one
or
group
basis-‐-‐is
outside
the
“comfort
zone”
for
most
believers.
It
is
not
unusual
to
feel
a
bit
uneasy
the
first
few
times
you
are
in
a
penal
facility-‐-‐-‐but
remember,
God
will
take
care
of
you
whenever
you
are
in
His
service.
COOPERATION:
There
are
many
different
persons
in
a
prison
society.
As
a
volunteer-‐-‐in
addition
to
the
inmates-‐-‐you
will
primarily
be
involved
with
correctional
officers
(also
called
guards)
and
a
chaplain
or
supervisor.
Most
people
you
meet
will
probably
treat
you
with
courtesy
and
respect.
Be
sure
to
treat
them
courteously,
speaking
to
them
and
shaking
hands
with
them
where
appropriate,
using
their
names
when
reasonably
possible.
It
is
important
for
volunteers
to
maintain
good
relationships
with
the
chaplain.
It
is
a
grave
breach
of
trust
to
use
your
access
to
the
prison
to
undermine
the
chaplain's
reputation
or
to
discredit
his
programs.
If
there
is
a
problem,
always
talk
with
the
chaplain
first.
GENUINENESS:
Inmates
and
administration
can
quickly
identify
anyone
who
joined
the
team
merely
out
of
curiosity.
Also,
selfish
motives
and
"holier-‐than-‐thou"
attitudes
have
no
place
in
this
ministry.
HUMILITY:
Maintain
a
humble
spirit.
Remember-‐-‐you
are
there
to
serve.
Always
defer
to
those
in
authority
(the
chaplain,
guards,
warden).
FORGIVING:
Foster
a
forgiving
spirit,
recognizing
that
but
for
the
grace
of
God,
you
could
be
in
a
similar
situation.
Realize
that
God’s
forgiveness
extends
to
all.
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PERSEVERANCE:
Society,
friends,
and
family
have
given
up
on
many
inmates.
They
don’t
need
someone
else
to
reject
them.
Be
patient.
Volunteers
who
start
and
then
quit
demoralize
the
inmates
and
disappoint
the
chaplain
and
the
prison
staff.
FAITHFULNESS:
Be
faithful,
constant,
and
trustworthy
in
the
performance
of
your
duties,
especially
in
keeping
promises
and
being
on
time
for
appointments
or
services.
Don’t
disappoint
them.
Be
faithful
to
this
great
privilege
with
which
God
has
entrusted
you.
SPIRITUAL
GROWTH:
You
must
not
only
lead
inmates
to
new
spiritual
growth,
but
you
yourself
also
must
be
willing
and
anxious
to
undergo
a
spiritual
and
personal
transformation.
EMOTIONAL
MATURITY:
It
is
important
that
you
can
handle
your
own
emotions:
Anger,
depression,
up
one
day
and
down
the
next.
Prison
is
a
depressing
place
and
inmates
don’t
need
more
gloom
and
doom.
LOVE:
The
greatest
motivating
force
behind
any
ministry-‐-‐and
especially
prison
ministry-‐-‐is
love….love
for
God,
unconditional
love
for
the
inmate,
love
for
the
mission
to
which
God
has
called
you.
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STEPS
TO
STARTING
YOUR
MINISTRY
STEP
ONE:
Pray
All
things
are
fueled
by
prayer.
Pray
about
what
God
wants
for
the
specific
institution
and
your
individual
role
in
it.
Lay
a
foundation
of
prayer
before
you
begin
your
ministry.
STEP
TWO:
Contact
the
local
Society
of
Saint
Vincent
de
Paul
Try
to
gain
the
interest
and
support
of
all
members
of
the
appropriate
conference
or
council
in
which
you
are
serving.
This
support
is
vital
to
obtaining
volunteers
to
staff
the
program.
The
key
will
be
in
showing
your
members
how
this
ministry
works
cooperatively
with
other
programs,
ministries,
and
services
of
the
church.
Members
should
be
prepared
to
work
and
cooperate
with
other
organizations
both
inside
and
outside
the
institution.
STEP
THREE:
Do
an
analysis
Here
are
some
questions
to
answer
in
your
analysis:
• What
jails
and
prisons
are
in
your
immediate
area?
Consult
with
the
chaplains
of
these
institutions?
• Are
there
other
faith-‐based
organizations
currently
providing
jail/prison
ministry?
If
they
already
have
a
program
and
have
gained
access
to
local
institutions,
perhaps
you
can
cooperate
with
them.
• Who
is
in
charge
of
volunteers
at
the
institution?
Contact
them
and
find
out:
How
do
you
get
cleared
for
ministry
inside
the
institution?
-‐ Are
there
forms
you
need
to
fill
out?
-‐ Is
there
special
training
you
must
take?
-‐ What
identification
do
you
need
for
clearance?
What
needs
exist
in
their
institution?
-‐ What
needs
can
you
and/or
your
group
fulfill?
Try
not
to
duplicate
efforts
of
other
Christian
organizations.
We
should
complement,
not
compete
with
one
another.
-‐ Familiarize
yourself
with
all
the
rehabilitation
programs
before
requesting
permission
to
provide
services
and/or
programs.
If
you
know
administrators,
officers,
or
former
inmates,
talk
to
them
about
the
needs
and
conditions.
Possible
activities
and
services
you
can
provide
to
an
institution
include:
-‐ Regular
church
services.
-‐ Christmas
gift
bags,
Easter
treats,
refreshments,
snacks,
etc.
-‐ Programs
to
address
specific
needs.
Ex:
female
population,
mental
health,
protective
custody,
education.
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Description:This manual is a training guide for jail and prison ministry volunteers. It is recommended that the following prayer be read immediately before .. There are many different ways a service or group meeting inside the prison can .. Margaret Clitherow, St. Benjamin, St. Thomas More, St. Francis of Ass
