Dr Ruth Webber addressing delegates at the prison chaplains gathering in Sydney.

Prison ministry has an important role in providing genuine human contact and a place where prisoners can interact in a positive way with each other and with the ministry team.

Dr Ruth Webber spoke about the integral role of prison ministry during the National Prison Chaplains Gathering between 24–26 September 2015.

Focusing on ‘the restorative practices employed in prison ministry and the ways in which they assist prisoners towards healing and transformation’, Dr Webber said that ‘while it may not be essential, I believe if prisoners can reconnect with their faith and with the spiritual and religious part of themselves this restorative process will be easier as they embrace the Christian message of hope and forgiveness’.

Touching on the announcement by Pope Francis that we will celebrate a ‘Year of Mercy’ in 2016, the theme of the Gathering was ‘Prison Ministry – The Face of Mercy’. The gathering was supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through the Australian Catholic Prisoners Pastoral Care Council (ACPPCC). Bishop Terry Brady attended the gathering as Chairperson of the ACPPCC.  Continue reading →