Prison Ministry – part of Offenders’ Restorative Justice Process

By: Mariola Gozdek:

I am privileged to work as one of the Site-Based Chaplains at the Collins Bay Medium and Maximum Security Institution in Kingston.

Site Based Chaplains serve spiritual needs of all offenders, no matter their religion, tradition, or culture. We lead religious services, visit inmates on ranges, offer spiritual counseling sessions and programs related to spirituality, restoration of life and relationships. Last month Chaplains have led Inmates in 5Km fundraiser-walk for local charity feeding the hungry on our streets.

Chaplains are looking at offenders through the eyes of God, seeing them as another human being, separating the person they are from the crime they committed, always keeping in mind victims of their crime. Chaplains’ role flows from the Gospel principle of loving one another. Justice has been done, offenders are paying for their actions, but we can’t forget that most of them are returning to the society at some point, and chaplaincy’s role is to assist inmates in this restorative justice process. We can’t do this alone.

Volunteers are very important in prison ministry. They bring the love of God inside the walls. They embody this love by spending time with prisoners, listening to their stories, laughing, and sharing a cup of coffee with them. With Volunteers, the outside world comes inside to those confined and disconnected from reality. Chaplain’s work is constantly supported by volunteers, and the need is great.

Presently two volunteers are running our Grief and Loss support group, one is leading a Bible study, a Guitar class, some are assisting with services in music ministry, others are leading or helping with variety of programs.

In Matthew chapter 25 Jesus promises eternal life to those who visit prisoners as He identifies with them when He says, “I was in prison, and you came to visit me”. In Letter to Hebrews 13:1-3 St. Paul calls us: “Remember those in prison”. Pope Francis is teaching us the Art of Accompanying one another (EG,169) and following Jesus he himself washes prisoners’ feet. Would you come and do the same?