Ministries
Ministry to Families of the Incarcerated
Ministry to Families of the Incarcerated is responsible for initiating, coordinating and promoting programs and activities to achieve the inclusion of families with incarcerated loved ones in parish ministry. The coordinator assists parish communities in reaching out to parishioners who are family members, especially to children who have a parent incarcerated. The coordinator, knowing that faith has a transforming effect on lives, ensures a spiritual grounding to parish-based programs for prisoners' families. The coordinator educates the Catholic community using the USCC pastoral: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration calling for new efforts in reaching out to the families of the incarcerated.
The Coordinator attends existing parish support groups to meet the families of the incarcerated and assists these families by initiating and coordinating the resources of interagency leaders. It is also a goal develop a database of family members from chaplains and pastors and share opportunities with families regarding events and workshops that extend a circle of support and promote advocacy. Please see below for Catholic parishes providing support to families who have a loved one incarcerated.
Victim Ministry
The Office of Restorative Justice, in recognizing the Gospel call to walk, support and minister to and with victims is initiating, coordinating, and promoting activities to achieve the inclusion of victims in parish ministry.
The Coordinator of Victim Ministry, assists parish communities in reaching out to parishioners who were victims of a violent act or are murder victim family members. Challenging parishes to include victims in all aspects of parish life, especially to raise awareness and include victims in the prayer life of the community of faith as central to authentically reaching out to victims.
We know that faith has a transforming effect on lives, ensures a spiritual grounding to ministry to victims. The Coordinator of Victim Ministry educates the Catholic community using the USCC Pastoral: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration calling for new efforts reaching out to the victims of violence.
On the journey to healing and reconciliation victims face many difficulties and challenges and we, as Church, are called to be Christ among those who suffer. Victim Ministry advocates on behalf of victims for justice in all aspects of this process.
Resettlement Program
The Resettlement Program was established to initiate, coordinate and promote programs to assist parolees in resettlement.
The Resettlement Coordinator works coordinating parish communities in developing parish-based programs to assist parolees in resettle. Through this program we educate the Catholic community using the USCC pastoral: Responsibility, and Restoration calling for new efforts in reaching out to men and women re-entering society after incarceration.
Get On The Bus
Each year, Get on the Bus brings children and their guardians or caregivers from throughout the state of California to visit their mothers in prison on Mother's Day. Get on the Bus offers free transportation for the children and provides a special free lunch during the three-hour visit with their mothers.
Pastoral ministers discovered when visitng thse prisons that most of the women never see their children. The women shared that their children were usually cared for by relatives, often grandparents, who are unable to make the drive due to distance or expense. Get on the Bus offers a priceless opportunity—a hug from one's mother, a photo taken with a dearly missed child, a connection with hope and reconciliation.
Ministry to Juveniles
Juvenile Justice Advocacy Group - direct ministry, education and advocacy on behalf of incarcerated youth and their families.
The Juvenile Justice Advocacy Group is made up of Catholic chaplains and volunteers who minister to incarcerated youth in State and County detention centers. This group embraces a holistic approach by integrating direct ministry, education, and advocacy for youth who are affected by the Juvenile and Criminal Justice Systems. We advocate for creative approaches to crime prevention and alternatives to incarceration. We oppose policies that treat young offenders as though they are adults. Guided and inspired by our faith, we are committed to working for radical and systemic change of the Justice System.
