Prison Ministry, Office Of
Buckhannon, WV 26201, United States
Within the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston, the scope of Prison Ministry is shared between the Office of Prison Ministry and the Office of Social Ministry.
The Office of Prison Ministry deals with all contact, outreach and sacraments for those who are incarcerated. The mission is to share our faith and the redemptive grace of Christ with those who are imprisoned. All Clergy, Diocesan employees and volunteers who wish to serve those who are incarcerated within the State or Federal penal system will need to contact the Office of Prison Ministry at 304-472-1217 for placement, training and proper credentialing.
The Office of Social Ministry provides resources and opportunities for parishes to serve those affected by loved ones who are incarcerated and those who have served their time and are now “Reentering” society. All too often, the families of those who are incarcerated and those who have been incarcerated feel alone, judged and unworthy of the grace and kindness that the faithful can offer. It is as if they too are “serving” time along with their loved one. The Office of Social Ministry encourages and supports parishes who are called to serve these families by offering the grace, peace and redemption that only Christ can offer. Any Parish that is interested in beginning a Parish Prison ministry initiative may contact the Office of Social Ministry at 304-233-0880 Ext. 289.
OUR MISSION
The Office of Prison Ministry provides pastoral care for the incarcerated and their families while seeking to affect changes in public policy regarding incarceration. We employ and encourage education and Christian outreach as we advocate for a continual improvement and reformation in our current criminal justice system in order to up hold the human dignity of all those impacted by incarceration. We strive to replace the retributive model of justice with a restorative one, which seeks to reconcile and restore the person, faith communities, and society at large.
We seek to inform the Parish Communities in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, of the needs of those incarcerated or re-entering society, and how to respond to Jesus’ invitation: “ I was in prison…and you visited me”.
Recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all people, Catholic correctional facility volunteers perceive prison ministry to be our Gospel call to be present and serve those affected by the criminal justice system, whether inmate, their family members, victims, or correctional officers and staff.
The responsibility for ministry to those who are incarcerated comes form Christ’s admonition to each of us,“whatever you do to the least…you’ve done to me” (Matthew 25). We, as a Catholic Faith Community, must respond to God’s call to this social and pastoral ministry by being involved in a meaningful way, by being present to all of the prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities within this diocese.
As Catholic Correctional volunteers, we realize this ministry is to Catholic faith communities and other individuals who are outcasts in society. Volunteers are their voice and make every effort to give voice to the needs of the incarcerated at all levels of Church structure.
Therefore, the Office of Prison Ministry recognizes the need for greater missionary efforts by parish communities. We use various opportunities to address parishes, pastors and diocesan leaders and invite them to come inside and participate with the incarcerated faith community.