“When Prisoners Come Home,” a conference co-sponsored by the
diocesan Catholic Charities’ Prison Ministry Program and the
Fairfax Aftercare Program of Truro Church, was held last
Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Sister of Notre Dame de La Salette Sister Connie Parcasio,
event organizer and director of prison ministry for Catholic
Charities, introduced speakers Father Michael Bryant,
chaplain of the D.C. Detention Facility and past chairman of
the National Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministries;
Shirley Coffield, founder and administrator of the Fairfax
Aftercare Program; Lori McCormick of Prison Fellowship
Ministries and volunteer with Loudoun Aftercare Program; Will
Wilson, director of re-entry and outreach of Offender Aid and
Restoration (OAR) of Arlington; and Brandon Cosby, director
of programs of Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources
(OAR) of Fairfax.
More than 50 people attended the seminar, which focused on
the issue of newly released prisoners re-entering society and
the vital role volunteers play in assuring their successful
future.
There are currently 2.4 million people imprisoned in the
United States, with about 650,000 released each year. Without
community support, many return to old destructive habits and
end up back in jail.
“Just as toddlers need the help of stronger persons to
support them lest they fall, so also the released offenders
need the support of stronger persons to walk the difficult
road to transition until they can be on their own,” Sister
Connie said in her opening remarks. “Without this help, it is
more likely that they will fall back again – in no time.”
Sister Connie said that there are approximately 38,000 people
jailed in Northern Virginia. She stressed the importance of
Church programs for the incarcerated and the need for more
volunteers to “get them in touch with their relationships
with themselves, with others and with God.
“Our Catholic programs offer one-on-one visiting where
volunteers listen and pray, and help them reflect on their
lives in a mentoring process,” said Sister Connie. “Bible
services, catechetical programs, Scriptural reflections and
meditation on the love and mercy of God, prayer services,
Masses and confessions are included.”
Volunteer support must continue after inmates are freed into
society for a positive future outcome, said Father Bryant,
keynote speaker, who has worked in prison ministry for 30
years. He stressed the importance of helping individuals
secure “a job, a place to live and pro-social community
involvement.”
“If they don’t get support, we know that 67 percent of the
re-entering population will fail to re-enter and within three
years, will violate rules of parole and commit another crime,
and half will be re-institutionalized,” said Father Bryant.
He cited the racial disparities represented in prisons,
“which society needs to address.” About 49 percent of those
behind bars are African American, 15 percent are Hispanic and
on the rise reflecting demographic trends. The remaining 36
percent is made up of Native Americans, Caucasians and
Asians. With only 12 percent of African Americans in U.S.
society, with an unemployment rate of 20 percent, as compared
to the overall unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, Father
Bryant said not having work leads to “idleness, boredom and
the risk of getting into trouble.”
In Washington and Montgomery County, where Father Bryant has
worked, the Welcome Home Reentry Program has proven that
mentoring is the key in helping former inmates succeed once
they are released. Through social and spiritual support,
individuals are able to handle the challenges they face in
reintegrating into mainstream society.
“We know mentoring works,” said Father Bryant. “It works with
kids in school, with individualized attention a child
improves.”
He said that mentoring also works with Big Brother, Big
Sister programs, where the youngster mirrors the pro-social
behavior of the adult. It works with Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA), in the RCIA program in the Church where everyone has a
sponsor. Mentoring is crucial for success in this
“challenging ministry.”
In the Arlington Diocese, there are 26 jails, prisons and
juvenile detention centers. Sister Connie said that Catholics
visit all but six, where volunteers are desperately needed,
including Culpeper County Jail, Loudoun County Juvenile
Detention Center in Leesburg, Page County Jail in Luray,
Warren Jail in Front Royal, Western Virginia Regional
Juvenile Detention Center in Winchester and White Post
Diversion Center in White Post. Both Spanish and English
speaking volunteers are needed.
Sister Connie said that prison ministry is a “ministry of
presence,” witnessing Gospel values, the Church’s social
teachings on the sacredness and dignity of human life.
Shirley Coffield, former international trade lawyer, founder
and administrator of the Fairfax Aftercare Program, trains
local volunteers, including ones sent to her by Sister
Connie. This comprehensive training includes the development
of listening skills, substance abuse training, and the use of
Christian faith in mentoring. Three months before their
release, inmates meet with their mentor and continue after
their release for six months.
“In local jails, 75-80 percent are there because of addiction
issues,” said Coffield. “If people get into a faith
community, statistics flip,” said Coffield. “Only 18-19
percent go back.”
She said that people should not be afraid to try working in
prison ministry if they feel they are being called.
“Don’t worry because God is in control of their life,”
Coffield explained. “It’s about your ability to help another
human being become the kind of person our Lord wants them to
be.”
She said the mentor benefits as much, or more, than the one
mentored.
“This is your going into jail and being blessed, and being a
blessing to someone,” Coffield said.
Socarras is a freelance writer from Annandale.
How to help
ccda.net/programs_prison.php or call Sister Connie Parcasio,
S.N.D.S, at 703/841-3832
