~PRISON ACTION COMMITTEE~
CCU's oldest ministry, the Prison Action Committee (PAC), serves as a voice for those incarcerated and coordinates both staff and volunteer pastoral care for inmates at area prisons. PAC is tasked with funding 25% of the Associate Chaplain's position at the Dauphin County Prison.
PAC meets monthly, on the second Thursday at 8:15 a.m., at the Catholic Diocese Office on Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg.
Community Connections - For the past nearly ten years the Prison Action Committee has coordinated monthly breakfasts at community churches for the men and women in work release and prison transition programs. Churches are needed! Each month a different church provides breakfast and an inspirational speaker. This is a person who has gone through the same experiences and is working to overcome through a faith journey. Please contact the CCU office to schedule a breakfast.
~ CHAPLAINCY~
CCU supports an Associate Chaplain who provides spiritual guidance and assistance for male and female inmates at Dauphin County Prison. He works with volunteer groups and provides pastoral contacts to more than 100 inmates a month, counsels inmates one-on-one, provides chapel talks, works with volunteers, and speaks in the community about prison ministry. He also chairs the mentor support group that meets monthly and attends the
re-entry breakfasts when he can.
Dauphin County provides 75% of costs for the Associate Chaplain.
~ PARISH DEVELOPMENT~
Pat Paxton has been working through a grant from the United Methodist Conference to keep inmates connected with churches. She calls pastors and other designated visitors that have been named by inmates as their spiritual contact. Pat is the director of Lighthouse Ministries transitional housing for women.
~ MENTOR & MENTOR SUPPORT~
After discussing the development of mentoring programs for years, prison ministry has finally moved forward on this. Mentors are trained through Prison Fellowship and then connected with inmates while they are still incarcerated. It is a slow, often painful, process. The Mentor support sessions are necessary and helpful. This has been a major step for the ministry and we hope to nurture and “grow it” slowly but surely. If you would like a training for
your church, please contact
Carolyn Pertusio at 838-5820.
WORK RELEASE WORSHIP SERVICES
Every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm a different church provides the worship service at CCU. About 30-25 men and women, often their families as well, come together for an ecumenical worship. Churches are always needed to provide the services. This is a most worthwhile activity. Please consider helping out.
