The mission of Catholic Prison Ministry is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities.

Priorities for Prison Ministry in the Archdiocese of Portland are:

• Foster education and understanding of Catholic Social Teaching 
• Extend care to those in prisons and jails 
• Assist persons in re-entry
• Engage parishes in a greater involvement in corrections ministry. 
• Establish an infrastructure with resources to lead, coordinate and communicate.

"I was in prison and you visited me" — Matthew 25:36                           

Prison Ministry  - A work of mercy

Do you, or anyone you know, regularly visit your county jail in a ministry/volunteer capacity?  We need your help in getting a core of Catholic volunteers on call for each county, who can visit and pray for new prisoners as the first step in breaking down the culture of isolation and shame that too frequently accompanies even minor offenses.

A good place to start is talking to your pastor who will help you by getting in touch with the jail's chaplaincy office. Even full-time chaplains rely on fundraising for their salary, so allow them some time in them returning your call.  

Find out what paperwork you have to complete, and start volunteering with something small -- perhaps taking around the book cart, which offers an excellent opportunity to speak and pray with the inmates.  

The Archdiocese is here to support you as you navigate these various levels of gestation as a team, helping all Catholics to realize the fruits of empathizing with all walks of life, and applying our faith into more active listening, wider imagination, and more participatory kinship with our brothers and sisters involved in the crueler realities of the world.

Contact your local parish for additional information.