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Prison Ministry & Re-Integration

Faith in Action Through Forgiveness and Healing

Men and women in prison are wounded, hurting and in need of spiritual healing.  Many with self-inflicted spiritual wounds are ostracized from ordinary life and they are seeking the Lord Jesus who alone can reconcile and make new. Prison Ministry teams coordinate the prison schedules, recruit volunteers, gather supplies and facilitate training. Parish volunteers visit the jail and spread the good news about Jesus, serve Mass, lead prayer, Liturgy of the Word, and encourage others to live and celebrate the faith in action through forgiveness and healing.

Each year, the Diocese prison ministry Star Light Star Bright program helps provide incarcerated persons and their families a means to heal and maintain relationships by sponsoring an event that reunites children with their mothers.

The Diocese prison ministry has for years wanted to take the next step of ministering with formerly incarcerated persons when they leave prison. The Diocese is currently developing a new ministry called Community Re-Integration.   HOPE Services Hawaii Inc (formerly formerly the Care-A-Van program of the Diocese Office for Social Ministry) currently conducts a nationally acclaimed community re-integration program (formerly Ponahawaiola - PO and now known as HOPE Resource Center).

HOPE Resource Center provides transitional housing services for men and women returning to Hawaiian communities from incarceration and is staffed 24/7 and in a sober living environment. Daily evening classes include: house meetings, Hazelden relapse prevention groups, gender specific groups, meth groups, new hire club, budgeting, renter's education and other life skills classes. Staff works closely with the Going Home Consortium which includes workforce, education and health care partners, Hawaii Intake Center, Hale Nani Furlough facility, Parole, Probation and Drug Court representatives.  This Consortium works to create a seamless re-entry system to reduce recidivism and prevent homelessness.  Persons returning to communities often have nowhere to go and do not know what to do once they are released from incarceration The program's organizational structure is strongly representative and reflective of previously incarcerated persons. The staff and advisory board are made up almost entirely of formerly incarcerated persons.

Donate to Prison Ministry Programs

Give to the Star Light Star Bright Program

Give to the Sun Light Sun Bright Program

Resources

Hawaii Catholic Herald article: Prison Ministry a Two-Way Street