Informational session on jail and prison ministry slated for Jan. 28
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
When it comes to volunteering in jail and prison ministry, Vincentian Father Martin McGeough readily admits it is not something everyone can do.
But for many men and women who have been called to serve, find it to be a ministry they have grown to love.
“Many who have volunteered [in jail and prison ministry], have stayed with it for long periods of time,” observed Father McGeough, coordinator of Jail and Prison Ministry in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care. “They believe, even before Pope Francis was saying it, that they are serving the marginalized of our society and they love it.”
Sharing the experiences of current jail and prison ministry volunteers, along with answering questions and addressing concerns, will be the focus of an informational session that Father McGeough will host for potential volunteer inquirers Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Diocesan Chancery, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville.
For persons who do decide they want to pursue volunteer work, another follow-up session will be publicized at a later date.
Citing the various jail and prison locations, Father McGeough noted that within the four-county Diocese is the largest federal prison at Fort Dix, and that there is a jail in each county. There are also five state prisons that are presently open, with a sixth slated to reopen outside Browns Mills in March.
“I am particularly hopeful of sending volunteers there when it opens,” he said, noting that the facility will include a drug rehabilitation program. Other institutions include a youth facility in Burlington County as well as a “for profit” prison in Trenton and a hospital for inmates with psychiatric difficulties.
The range of outreach that volunteers provide are “religious in nature” that include Scripture studies and Catholic studies as well as deacons leading Communion services.
Volunteers, Father McGeough said, cannot be youths, “but they can be mature adults in their twenties.”
“People who serve will find themselves visiting people who are grateful for their presence and support,” Father McGeough said, adding that he has found the two parts of his work to be rewarding in different ways.
“I visit the men and women in prison and I send others to do the same,” he said.
To attend the informational session on Jan. 28, contact Dorian Thomas at 609-403-7175 or email: [email protected] or Father McGeough at 609-403-7198 or [email protected].
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By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
When it comes to volunteering in jail and prison ministry, Vincentian Father Martin McGeough readily admits it is not something everyone can do.
But for many men and women who have been called to serve, find it to be a ministry they have grown to love.
“Many who have volunteered [in jail and prison ministry], have stayed with it for long periods of time,” observed Father McGeough, coordinator of Jail and Prison Ministry in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care. “They believe, even before Pope Francis was saying it, that they are serving the marginalized of our society and they love it.”
Sharing the experiences of current jail and prison ministry volunteers, along with answering questions and addressing concerns, will be the focus of an informational session that Father McGeough will host for potential volunteer inquirers Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Diocesan Chancery, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville.
For persons who do decide they want to pursue volunteer work, another follow-up session will be publicized at a later date.
Citing the various jail and prison locations, Father McGeough noted that within the four-county Diocese is the largest federal prison at Fort Dix, and that there is a jail in each county. There are also five state prisons that are presently open, with a sixth slated to reopen outside Browns Mills in March.
“I am particularly hopeful of sending volunteers there when it opens,” he said, noting that the facility will include a drug rehabilitation program. Other institutions include a youth facility in Burlington County as well as a “for profit” prison in Trenton and a hospital for inmates with psychiatric difficulties.
The range of outreach that volunteers provide are “religious in nature” that include Scripture studies and Catholic studies as well as deacons leading Communion services.
Volunteers, Father McGeough said, cannot be youths, “but they can be mature adults in their twenties.”
“People who serve will find themselves visiting people who are grateful for their presence and support,” Father McGeough said, adding that he has found the two parts of his work to be rewarding in different ways.
“I visit the men and women in prison and I send others to do the same,” he said.
To attend the informational session on Jan. 28, contact Dorian Thomas at 609-403-7175 or email: [email protected] or Father McGeough at 609-403-7198 or [email protected].
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