A new ministry
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can read the Bell & Tower’s interview with Emily by clicking here.
By parishioner and volunteer, Emily Lyons.
A new prison ministry group is forming at Saint Philip’s! You are invited to join us at 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 12, via Zoom to learn more about this group and ways that you can be involved. Email Emily Lyons at elyons@arizona.edu for more information.
Why prison ministry?
Why should we minister to those in prison? A common assumption is that people in prison deserve to be there because they have committed crimes that have caused pain and suffering to others. This assumption gives us license to be comfortable with a prison system that denies incarcerated people basic rights and subjects them to brutal treatment and dehumanizing conditions.
There are many ways in which our prison system is unjust and perpetuates harms it is supposed to alleviate. The reasons for this are complex, rooted in the systemic inequalities built into our society—the Prison Policy Initiative website is a good resource to learn more.
But one doesn’t have to be well-informed about these issues to understand what our faith teaches us: that all are deserving of compassion and forgiveness without exception. Through prison ministry we acknowledge the humanity of those who have been rejected by society.
What is “prison ministry?”
When people hear “prison ministry,” the first thing that probably comes to mind is volunteering directly with inmates. This is one way to be involved, and there are a number of organizations dedicated to this kind of work that you can volunteer with.
There are also many other ways of participating in prison ministry, such as by corresponding with inmates through a pen pal program, advocating for criminal justice reform by contacting lawmakers, donating funds and supplies to programs supporting inmates and their families, or coordinating awareness-raising events within the community.
You can learn about these opportunities and more at the meeting on Tuesday, March 12!
What does the prison ministry group do?
Our current focus is getting Saint Philip’s involved in supporting prison ministry efforts happening throughout the diocese.
These include the Sunshine Club, which sends holiday cards to inmates, and Camp Genesis, a diocese-run summer camp for children and youth who have a family member in prison.
Making cards for the Sunshine Club or participating in a fundraiser for Camp Genesis are some great ways that children and families can get involved!
We hope to schedule some events in support of the Sunshine Club and Camp Genesis soon. We are also exploring other ways that Saint Philip’s can be engaged in prison ministry, and we invite you to share your ideas.
Where can you find more information?
You can email Emily Lyons at elyons@arizona.edu. You can also learn more about prison ministry efforts happening throughout the diocese by clicking here.