Prison Ministry

Each week we send Lectio Divina reflections on the Sunday readings to the jail by email to be shared with staff and prisoners. We also share helpful Bible and prayer resources.  (Even during Covid restrictions, our written reflections were shared and used for Sunday worship at the Jail.)  

We visit the jail on Sunday afternoons to share faith, pray, and be Messengers of Hope. We eventually hope to offer the sacrament of Reconciliation and bring the Eucharist to those who ask for it.

Only those who complete a volunteer application and background check may enter the Lawrence County Jail.
We currently have three volunteers—two who take turns visiting the jail on Sundays and one who sees specific prisoners during the week during regular visiting hours.  

We will schedule an information session if there is interest or to talk with you individually. Right now, a limited number of volunteers are allowed to go to the jail, but we have the necessary forms for those interested in joining us when more are allowed to go in. Our goal is to have two people present each week in each session with the men and women for the
45 -minute to one-hour sessions. Consistency is important. 
Interested parishioners are invited to discern with us and learn about what next steps may be needed. We seek to understand better what else we may do in our community to be resources to prisoners when they are released.

 

If you are uncomfortable with going to jail, there are other options for supporting this ministry by working with other religious communities in New Castle and agencies that offer help to returning citizens. 

Right now, you can join us by: praying daily for the intentions of those in the jail, those who work there, those detained there and for everyone affected by their presence there—families, friends, community, and yes, especially any victims. 

If you are interested in learning more, do not hesitate to
contact the jail ministry’s coordinator,
Dr. Harry Dudley, at [email protected].

You can also learn more about jail and prison
ministry at www.catholicprisonministries.org