By Angela Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/14/04)

"Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words," said St. Francis of Assisi. This well-known quote is put into action daily at jails in Arlington and Alexandria by the many volunteers who assist with Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR). Volunteers of many faiths and backgrounds take the time to be present to the imprisoned.

"OAR echoes the essence of the (mandate) to love one another even as I have loved you," said David Manning, executive director of the Arlington division. "The volunteers are being the Christ, to the Christ."

OAR is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Founded as a grassroots movement in Richmond by Jay Worrell, OAR serves prison inmates in pre- and post-release programs. Worrell’s goal was to train citizens to work one-on-one with the inmates to help prepare them for reunification with the community. Since its inception, OAR has spread throughout the state, said Manning.

To celebrate 30 years of service, OAR is hosting a night of refreshments and entertainment called "Voices of Change" on Oct. 23 at the Lyceum in Alexandria. This event will give voice to those who have been voiceless. There will be poetry, art and multimedia presentations created by those OAR has served.

"Offenders, when given the right aid, can and ought to be restored to the community," said Manning, a member of St. Rita Parish in Alexandria.

To do this noble work, OAR relies heavily on the support of volunteers, many of whom are Catholic.

There are a wide variety of prison opportunities that need volunteer help, said OAR Volunteer Services Program Coordinator Katy Steinbruck. There are opportunities for the inmates to take part in educational and creative activities such as yoga, art, creative writing, English as a second language (ESL) and life skills discussions about anger or money management and parenting skills, Steinbruck said. OAR organizes one-on-one mentoring and two therapeutic, self-contained programs: Women Empowered for Change and the Master’s Program for men working on their GED.

After their release, ex-convicts are faced with the challenge of making pledges and promises come to life and take flesh, Manning said. They often struggle with substance abuse problems, unemployment, tentative housing and fractured families. OAR volunteers offer help in this difficult transitional time.

OAR offers community service options for juveniles. One option is to work with Marvin Mayorga, janitor at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington. The youths, ages 11-19, help Mayorga with a variety of jobs around the church, school and parish hall.

"I’ve seen some kinds of miracles," Mayorga said of the youths. One particular youth was not incredibly happy about having to serve. Mayorga assumed that once he had completed his time, the boy would never return to the church. But afterward, the youth came back and offered to continue helping when needed.

"You can see a great peace when they go to the church to work," Mayorga said. "What they are doing is healing them."

With the Arlington jail within the parish boundaries of St. Charles Borromeo, many of their parishioners help with in this work.

"Just as Jesus always gave people a second chance, we as a church work for a society where there is a second chance for those who have committed crimes," said Father Gerry Creedon, pastor. "We as a parish have been very involved in jail ministry and with OAR to provide opportunities for people who have been incarcerated to begin their life again with support in the community."

While the OAR program is dependent on a large staff of volunteers, all volunteers must go through a training process, Manning said. This training includes an orientation as well as period for the volunteers to observe, Steinbruck said.

"The training within the facility is an important time," Steinbruck said. "You can’t sit here and explain what goes on in the jail." At first, most volunteers are uncomfortable within the jail, but when the volunteers spend time observing first, they are able to develop a comfort zone, she said.

"Volunteers assist in every level of work we do," said Manning. "They are co-deployers of the mission of the agency."

One of those volunteers, Bill Richey, is now educational coordinator at the Arlington jail. His five-year volunteer experience with OAR was instrumental in beginning his new position at the jail. With OAR, Richey, a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, taught ESL to people in a maximum security unit.

"The students were welcoming and appreciative," Richey said. "It was different than what most would expect."

Richey found OAR as he was preparing to join the Secular Franciscan Order. Part of this process is to be involved in an active ministry, following the footsteps of St. Francis. He read an article written by an OAR volunteer, and it touched Richey so much that he called the author and decided to get involved. His work with OAR continued even after he professed.

Richey said that the Latin American bishops said in 1979 that the Church needs a preferential option for the poor. "The Church has that as part of its mission."

He referred to Matthew 25 as being a powerful chapter for him: "I was … in prison and you came to visit me."

Manning agreed that he also finds much comfort in that verse.

"We’re responsible for the effort, not the outcome," Manning said. Just as Jesus became incarnate and took flesh to be with His people, jail ministry supports the Catholic idea of being incarnational to others — being present to those in need.

"It’s tough going in there every day, but they’re so appreciative," Steinbruck said. "They’re not saints. They’ve made bad choices." Despite this, the inmates are usually well-behaved and insightful. "It never ceases to touch me," she said.

"This work has helped me to become less judgmental," Manning said. Everyone has some bad in them, and all of us share the hope for forgiveness and acceptance. "We’re trying to keep alive the rumor of hope," he said.

"Being in there crystallizes things," Steinbruck said. "Faith without works is dead."

For more information about OAR or the "Voices of Change" event call 703/228-7030 or go to www.oaronline.org.