Prison ministry supports and coordinates outreach ministry offered by parish-based volunteers to the imprisoned, offering spiritual and emotional assistance to inmates and their families.

Prison Ministry believes
• Every human being is sacred and born with inherent dignity
• God’s grace and mercy are able to transform our sinfulness

Prison Ministry is
• A ministry of presence, especially to the incarcerated
• Pastoral care of the community where we participate in the healing ministry of Christ
• A focus on the offenders, victims and their families

Prison Ministry
• Assures a Catholic presence in  prison and jail facilities located in the Diocese of Arlington
• Views crime and punishment in light of the Gospel
• Promotes Christian responses to offenders and victims
• Cooperates with churches and other agencies and organizations to advocate for just laws, and calls for an end to the cycle of crime

Our Ministries and Volunteers

  (1)   Volunteers who minister inside jail and prison facilities:
• Visit one-on-one with men, women and youth who are incarcerated
• Help organize religious services: Mass, confession, sacramental preparedness
• Conduct Bible study, faith sharing, and catechesis
• Provide Pre-GED tutoring, ESL, and teaching basic computer skills

  (2) Volunteers outside the facilities:
• Organize individuals and small groups to pray daily for the prisoners, victims, the volunteers and their ministry, the chaplains and correctional officers
• Join legislative advocacy networks
• Create a parish-based aftercare team
• Assist ex-offenders in their transition to the community through (a) after-care mentoring, and (b) backpack projects
• Write letters to individuals who are in prison for life and those on death row
• Join prayer vigils when executions take place
• Collect greeting cards and other supplies for inmates
• Assist families of victims they know in their parishes
• Reach out to inmate’s families through prayer and material support

    Catholic Charities coordinates jail and prison ministry in the  Diocese of Arlington
(1)   Jails:
Arlington County Detention Center
Alexandria Detention Center
Fairfax Adult Detention Center
Loudoun Adult Detention Center
Prince William County Adult Detention Center
Clark-Winchester-Frederick-Fauquier Regional Jail
Central Virginia Regional Jail
Fauquier County Jail
Culpeper County Jail
Page County Jail
Shenandoah County Jail
Warren County Jail

(2) Prisons:
Coffeewood Correctional Center
Haynesville Correctional Center
Haynesville Unit 17 Correctional Center
Stafford Diversion Center
Whitepost Detention Center
Whitepost Diversion Center
Culpeper Correctional Center for Girls

 (3) Juvenile Detention Centers:
Culpeper Juvenile Detention Center
Fairfax Juvenile Detention Center
NOVA Juvenile Detention Center
Northwestern Juvenile Detention Center
Loudoun Juvenile Detention Center
Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center
Prince William County Juvenile Detention Center

          To know more about Prison Ministry,  please contact Sr. Connie Parcasio, SNDS, at 703-841-3832 or via email at cparcasio@ccda.net . 

by Sr. Constancia Parcasio, SNDS

In the Diocese of Arlington, there is a total of 23 jail and prison facilities spread all throughout the diocese. Of this number, 13 are jails, 3 are prisons, and 7 are juvenile detention centers. The relative total population to date is about 7,700 inmates.

Out of the 23 facilities, only 13 receive regular visits by Catholic volunteers. Out of the 13, 5 facilities have regular Masses and enjoy the presence of a priest--some every week, some once in every two weeks, and some once a month. The rest are taken care of by generous and faithful volunteers. Some volunteers have been active for more than 25 years. Many others who are new have joined them and still more others are in the process of coming into the ministry. They are the faithful who believe in the Lord’s words: "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me; I was in prison and you visited Me.."

Volunteering in the prison ministry opens the volunteers to many opportunities of ministering to the inmates. The work that they do includes the following: liturgical presiding, eucharistic ministry, sacramental preparation, scripture reflection, Bible study, small-group facilitation, one-on-one visitation, mentoring, legislative advocacy, victim support, prayer ministry, and transitional support.

As we can see in the statistics, Catholic volunteers serve only about half of the total number of jails and prisons in the diocese. Yet the fact remains that sooner or later these incarcerated men and women will come back into our community. It is hoped that when they return to us, they will not go back to their former way of life but that they may know how to live as peaceful and productive members of society again. But to achieve this end, they need to be prepared now and the only way to do this is to meet them while they are still inside through our volunteers.

The next question is: Who qualifies for prison ministry? Simple. Anyone can volunteer who sees God in those that he or she encounters; is willing to follow the rules of the prison/jail facilities; is aware of one's own gifts and limitations; and has an open, non-judgmental attitude and spirituality. Anyone who has these qualities is most welcome to join the ministry and may contact:

Sr. Constancia V. Parcasio, SNDS
Prison Ministry Office
Catholic Charities Suite 506
200 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203

Tel. 703-841-3832
Fax: 703-841-3840

E-mail: cparcasio@ccda.net