Prison Ministry
"God's love for us is not the reason for which we should love him. God's love for us is the reason for us to love ourselves." - Simone Weil
Prison Ministry
A few years ago, as I began having more time in my seventies, I was looking for a ministry that would both satisfy a community need, fit my own priestly energies, I settled on jail or prison ministry. Especially after discovering that the County Jail seldom saw a Catholic priest. I proposed a program, based on many years of Correctional consulting as a psychologist.
We are now soon completing our third year, with five volunteers active and three more soon ready. Each gives one hour per week to the residential pod of 7-10 inmates who are screened for readiness before admitting. Criteria for volunteer selection: one must be living the faith journey a at deep enough level to be motivated to share their journey regularly and persistently. We have had some turn over of volunteers. A remarkable number of good things have come out of this initiative.
The program is "A Fierce Landscape for the Spiritual Warrior," which is deseribed on one of my web logs at www.paschalbaute.com/writing We have a workbook of checklists, handouts, prayer study, bible study guides and inventories of some 30 pages. We have a twelve week self-study program leading to the awarding of a Certificate, which is highly valued by inmates. We teach that the Correctional setting is a spiritual "bootcamp" that is needed for conversion and transformation.
What do we do? Lead discussions re the Spiritual Journey and tools usedful and needed. We encourage and develop the group process in that residential pod so they take responsiblity for leading their own groups and develop leadership among themselves. The atmosphere is positive, and caring about and learning from one another.
We emphasize three habits required and regular assessment and group feedback.
A. NURTURED MY INNER SELF: study, meditation, prayer, reading, quiet time,
self discipline, exercise, calisthenics, etc.
B. POSITIVE BEHAVIORS SHOWN, getting along, care of self, care of group, care of pod, demonstrating different behaviors, use checklist.
C. FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS, seeking & getting it regularly, handling it, friendship, mentoring, leadership, personal program, etc.
Example of one of the exercises created for self-discovery and faith development is this one:
We stand at quiet attention for one full minute recognizing that we are already inside the Divinity, inside the Mystery we call God, Who is all around us.. . ..
I give each one an imaginary flower which they receive. The flower represents the Inner Beauty of their souls, which they have neglected but are now discovering. Because we are each God’s images and children, the inner beauty can scarcely be recognized by humans. How would they describe the flower, later in writing, which we will later discuss. I have been using and inspired by the book and audio on Beauty by John O’Donohue (as well as other Celtic Christian writers and sources)
Here are several responses (Note the program is described on one of my web logs at www.paschalbaute.com/writing Scroll down right sidebar to Fierce Landscape. p.s. any of these materials are available free on request)
__
My flower is pale white because my faith is new. I would compare it to a wild flower because it is still unkempt I would say that it is not completely bloomed because my faith is still not whole. Its petals are soft as silk and are easily bruised because my soul is till in transition but I still believe with the right water (God’s word) and the richest soil (Jesus love) it will become a beautiful white rose.
____
The "rose" you gave me was a wonderful gift. The rose was a life time experience. This Rose is something that is never going to die. Something that I gained here coming to Jail. The rose is God and I will never turn away from God now. I found him.
The experience in coming to jail, I learned new wisom and knowledge from other group members. I know right from wrong now. This rose opened something new in my life! The way to success.
I want to thank you, Paschal for letting me come here to our program. It is going to help me change m life. This Rose you gave me is something that will never die. Thanks so, so very much.
___
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me. Matthew 25: 36-44
Prison Ministry
A few years ago, as I began having more time in my seventies, I was looking for a ministry that would both satisfy a community need, fit my own priestly energies, I settled on jail or prison ministry. Especially after discovering that the County Jail seldom saw a Catholic priest. I proposed a program, based on many years of Correctional consulting as a psychologist.
We are now soon completing our third year, with five volunteers active and three more soon ready. Each gives one hour per week to the residential pod of 7-10 inmates who are screened for readiness before admitting. Criteria for volunteer selection: one must be living the faith journey a at deep enough level to be motivated to share their journey regularly and persistently. We have had some turn over of volunteers. A remarkable number of good things have come out of this initiative.
The program is "A Fierce Landscape for the Spiritual Warrior," which is deseribed on one of my web logs at www.paschalbaute.com/writing We have a workbook of checklists, handouts, prayer study, bible study guides and inventories of some 30 pages. We have a twelve week self-study program leading to the awarding of a Certificate, which is highly valued by inmates. We teach that the Correctional setting is a spiritual "bootcamp" that is needed for conversion and transformation.
What do we do? Lead discussions re the Spiritual Journey and tools usedful and needed. We encourage and develop the group process in that residential pod so they take responsiblity for leading their own groups and develop leadership among themselves. The atmosphere is positive, and caring about and learning from one another.
We emphasize three habits required and regular assessment and group feedback.
A. NURTURED MY INNER SELF: study, meditation, prayer, reading, quiet time,
self discipline, exercise, calisthenics, etc.
B. POSITIVE BEHAVIORS SHOWN, getting along, care of self, care of group, care of pod, demonstrating different behaviors, use checklist.
C. FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS, seeking & getting it regularly, handling it, friendship, mentoring, leadership, personal program, etc.
Example of one of the exercises created for self-discovery and faith development is this one:
We stand at quiet attention for one full minute recognizing that we are already inside the Divinity, inside the Mystery we call God, Who is all around us.. . ..
I give each one an imaginary flower which they receive. The flower represents the Inner Beauty of their souls, which they have neglected but are now discovering. Because we are each God’s images and children, the inner beauty can scarcely be recognized by humans. How would they describe the flower, later in writing, which we will later discuss. I have been using and inspired by the book and audio on Beauty by John O’Donohue (as well as other Celtic Christian writers and sources)
Here are several responses (Note the program is described on one of my web logs at www.paschalbaute.com/writing Scroll down right sidebar to Fierce Landscape. p.s. any of these materials are available free on request)
__
My flower is pale white because my faith is new. I would compare it to a wild flower because it is still unkempt I would say that it is not completely bloomed because my faith is still not whole. Its petals are soft as silk and are easily bruised because my soul is till in transition but I still believe with the right water (God’s word) and the richest soil (Jesus love) it will become a beautiful white rose.
____
The "rose" you gave me was a wonderful gift. The rose was a life time experience. This Rose is something that is never going to die. Something that I gained here coming to Jail. The rose is God and I will never turn away from God now. I found him.
The experience in coming to jail, I learned new wisom and knowledge from other group members. I know right from wrong now. This rose opened something new in my life! The way to success.
I want to thank you, Paschal for letting me come here to our program. It is going to help me change m life. This Rose you gave me is something that will never die. Thanks so, so very much.
___
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me. Matthew 25: 36-44
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