Jail and Prison Ministry

About

Jail and prison ministries serve as a resource for parishes and faithful by providing information and ministry opportunities for clergy and laity in correctional institutions within the borders of the diocese.

Jail and prison ministries also seek to promote restorative justice through its programs and services.
 

What is Restorative Justice?

The purpose of restorative justice is to heal and restore both the victim and the offender. The current penal law’s retributive model of justice separates the victim from the offender, pitting them against each other.

Restorative justice seeks to empower the offender in owning responsibility for the criminal action. This form of justice is seen as integrated and whole and is based on mercy and love instead of perpetuating the current retributive model of justice as punishment.

• directs pastoral and sacramental ministry to incarcerated men and women
• educates the parishioners of the diocese on the nature of incarceration as well as the needs of prisoners and their families
• recruits and trains clergy and lay contract and volunteer ministers
• advocates for the rights of the incarcerated
• lobbies with civic and community leaders for a more just and humane correctional system
• maintains an extensive library of books, articles and videos
• works with CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) (www.curenational.org)

CALL for Catholic Volunteers

The Jail and Prison Ministry is in critical need for the support of our Parishioners to share their faith through religious education, prayer and reflection with those who are incarcerated in our New Jersey State Prisons.  At this time, the prisons are not allowing volunteers to visit.  Please check back to see if things have changed.