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Opportunities and Contacts for participation in Prison Ministry

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Ministry Conducted Outside Prison Walls

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• Twin Cities Prison Ministry Steering Committee - 30 hours per 1 year. Meetings - Third Thursday
  of the month 4-6pm. Contact:

• Legislative Action - Review potential public policy matters listed on US Conference of Catholic
  Bishops Restorative Justice website (http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/criminal-justice-restorative-justice/index.cfm), Minnesota Catholic Conference (https://www.mncatholic.org/advocacyarea/restorative-justice/), Catholic Mobilization Network (https://catholicsmobilizing.org/), Prison Fellowship Justice Reform website (https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/justicereform/) and Center for Prison Reform (https://centerforprisonreform.org/)   Inform steering committee of suggested actions.

• Prayer Warriors - Pray during Residents Encounter Christ (REC) retreat weekends or for special intentions whatever time available per request. Prayer Warriors are notified by e-mail about four times a year to request prayers during the REC Weekend Retreats held in prison. A follow up e-mail is sent at the conclusion of retreats to provide an insight about the weekend. Currently over 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of St Paul & Mpls are involved.

• Angel Tree - Coordinator: 35 hours annually September through December; Coordinate this ministry at your church to obtain and distribute gifts for children of incarcerated parents through Prison Fellowship Ministry
  (https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/)

• Pen Pal - Training and support provided by TC Prison Ministry (TCPM) and the Order of Malta. Correspondence: minimum of one letter a month for 1 year. Click here for Pen Pal guidelines. Click here for information about the Order of Malta. Contact us to get involved: tcpm.linda@gmail.com 

• Birthday Card - Meet together with other parishioners once a month to write Birthday Cards to those in prison. (https://www.affirmingyou.org/)Contact TCPM (tcprisonministry@yahoo.com) for more info.

• Rosary Distribution - Distribute breakaway rosaries and brochures - "How to Pray the Rosary" to prison Chaplains

• FISH - Family of Incarcerated Support and Hope Group - food prep, child care once a month on 2nd Thursday of the month at St. Joseph Church, Rosemount 6pm - 8:30pm. Contact:   

• Start a Prison Ministry program in your parish. We would be happy to assist you as you start a prison
  ministry in your parish or to direct you to a workshop near to you.

Ministry Conducted Inside Prison

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Certain prerequisites are required and participation in Mentorship require a minimum of one year commitment

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• Residents Encounter Christ (REC) Retreats (http://www.cm-rec.org/RECDB) - Prerequisites:

       Participation in weekend retreat (Together Encounter Christ (TEC), Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus or other charismatic retreat), Department of Corrections facility training including background check (3 hours)

Time commitment:1 day team formation, 2 1/2 days retreat weekend and1/2 day reunion the Saturday following the retreat.

• REC Connect – if interested in followup from retreat, monthly meetings following REC retreat at the facility with song, worship and teachings to support a Christ Centered Community within the prison;

• Charis Retreats - http://www.charismn.com/index.php - Prerequisite: participation in weekend type retreat like Together Encounter Christ (TEC), Cursillo or Walk to Emmaus type plus DOC facility training and background check- 3 hours; Time commitment: 3 days team formation (1 outside the facility and 2 inside), 3 1/2 day retreat weekend (Thursday evening thru Sunday) and1/2 day reunion the Saturday following the retreat.

• Bible Study – meets on a weekly basis; commitment for 1 year. Rotating list of volunteers - may only need to attend once a month.

• One to One Mentoring - transition programs - Training and support provided by Prison Fellowship (https://www.prisonfellowship.org) - one year commitment