During this Lenten season we as Orthodox Christians can choose either to be like the Pharisees of old and be comfortable in our self-righteousness, or we can be like Saint Moses of Ethiopia or St Mary of Egypt and be humble and lowly even as Christ was humble and lowly. We cannot enter into the […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our ministry would like to share with you this powerful letter we received. It is written by an individual who is currently incarcerated and corresponds with our ministry. We want to highlight the impact that even a small act can have on someone who is far removed from society. […]
Monday, November 29th, I received the best Christmas gift I could ever possibly receive. I was in Home Depot ordering a new blind for our parish hall when I suddenly heard the voice of a lady behind me exclaim, “Joy!” I turned around and as she drew closer to me, I looked deep into her […]
What would inspire a grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of two to want to be involved with prison ministry? His name is Douglas Charles – my precious son who died in 1991 at the age of 23 as a result of using drugs. He left behind his then 13-month-old son John who is now 28 […]
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the Main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a Promontory were, as well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death […]
Here is a great story: .. I remember confession in the monastery Grigoriou. Then (in 1981) hegumen George, who is still alive, told me a story. He happened to take a confession from a dying priest in a small town in Greece. The priest had two children with a very large age difference – the […]
Years ago, I gave a retreat at a wonderful church. The retreat focused on God’s amazing love for people in prison and how He touched different lives in miraculous ways drawing them to Himself. I talked about things I had personally witnessed over my many years as a prison chaplain and how those men had […]
I entered the women’s prison with my keyboard on my hip and my Bible in my hand. My plan was to bring them to Christ through music and psalms. I had good intentions but God had other plans. I surveyed the scene, praying the Jesus Prayer intensely. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy […]
In making rounds today, I was stopped by an inmate who wanted to talk. The question he asked is; “Will Christ forgive me for my sins and transgressions.”? It is important to note the words of St. Paul who said; “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the […]
The Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) works to facilitate the intent of Orthodox Christians to “do good works” within the penitentiary system. The cumbersome and inconsistent rules surrounding who and what can enter a prison makes direct action nearly impossible. For this reason, we have OCPM trained clergy and lay volunteers ready and willing to […]