Catholics in Perth are being encouraged to perform one of the corporal works of mercy and, in the process, help to change lives, by volunteering their time to visit those in prison.
The prison chaplaincy ministry in Perth is in need of volunteers to help with Sunday liturgies, as well as more chaplains to provide pastoral and spiritual support to prisoners.
Prison chaplaincy organiser Vicky Burrows told The Record it was an important ministry to be involved in.
“When we think about people in prison, they are the Body of Christ… and I think it’s really important that Catholics see that call of the Church to visit people in prison,” she said.
“It’s often something that a lot of Catholics don’t know about.
“But I think it’s quite powerful when you have people from outside the prison come in who are just giving up their time because they see this person as a valuable human being.”
Ms Burrows said the chaplains support hundreds of people in prisons and detention centres across the State, ranging from young to old, and including all types of inmates.
“There are remand prisons, minimum security and maximum security prisons that we’re present in,” she said.
“It’s a very challenging job. We are chaplains to the prisoners but also to those who work in the prison, the prison officers. There is… a real need for their pastoral support and welfare.”
Aside from arranging a Mass in the prisons once a month, the prison chaplains also tend to the pastoral needs of as many prisoners as they can.
“On a practical level that means … we’ll hang out with them and do a few different things from talking about the football to talking about how they’re experiencing what’s going on while they’re in prison,” Ms Burrows said.
Although there is a training process that needs to be completed before one can become a prison chaplain, Ms Burrows said she would welcome any volunteers who simply wish to be present at the prison Masses.
“If someone has empathy… good people skills, can relate to different people from different backgrounds, but in terms of qualifications – just a heart for giving something a go is the best thing,” she said.
“When I have a person who comes to a service and is open to changing their heart and their ways and realise they can’t necessarily do that alone, they’re seeking strength somewhere. When they identify that that might be from God, that’s a powerful moment.”