Thursday, September 23, 2021 2:00 PM – Friday, October 8, 2021 3:00 PM CST
- To provide details on the resources available to you and your diocesan staff via this growing national network, especially for formation at foundational (volunteer), intensive (associate/part-time), and leadership (certified correctional chaplain) levels for lay ministers and clergy in prison ministries
- To converse and respond to questions and feedback you may have based on your experiences in responding to needs in prison ministries at the local level
- To invite your consideration of commitment to a partnership between your arch/diocese, CPMC, and NACC to resource the needs of the local church in this important area
Choose your date when you register:
Thursday, September 23, 2021 2:00 PM or Friday, October 8, 2021 3:00 PM CST
To register: https://web.nacc.org/events/Virtual-Diocesan-Workshop-for-Prison-Jail-or-Detention-Ministries–262/details
How can an (Arch)diocese participate?
Foundational Pathway (Results in a certificate of completion.)
This involves 16 hours of formation, (6 one hour group sessions and 10 hours individual study using materials from CPMC Prison Ministry 101 program), 8 hours with a mentor/supervisor), and at least 6 hours of ministry
- A diocesan or parish representative can receive a general introduction to the Foundational Pathway Formation Program through a one hour webinar.
- A diocese or parish representative can receive both an introduction to the content/method of the Foundational Pathway’s six-session formation program, and preparation for facilitators/mentors who will have roles in leading this program through a two-hour introduction program.
- A diocese could also have CPMC trained personnel facilitate the six one-hour synchronous ZOOM sessions, as well as review the participants’ work for its completion.
Intensive Pathway (Results in a Certificate of Completion)
This involves a ten month Pastoral Care Formation program (structured with CPE components) with 8 hours of monthly group engagement along with clinical setting experience in criminal justice-related setting(s) (hours in jail/prisons/detention centers, reentry, families of prisoners, parish-based restorative justice work).
- A diocese could encourage individuals who have the appropriate background to participate in a CPMC program.
- A diocese could work with CPMC to run its own program with CPMC provided trained educators.
Leadership/Specialization Pathway (Results in certification as a Certified Catholic Correctional Chaplain – CCCC)
This certification requires the completion of the Foundational and Intensive Pathways, along with some academic and ministry requirements. This is an excellent Pathway for those responsible for oversight of your diocesan pastoral care ministries, as well as for individuals who need the national credentialing and endorsement to work in correctional ministry.
- A diocese can sponsor individuals to complete the Foundational and Intensive Pathways to apply for this.
- A diocese, when appointing someone to oversee their correctional ministries program can encourage/require their involvement.
Most importantly, strongly encourage those responsible for prison and correctional ministries in your diocese to take advantage of the ministerial networking, webinars, town halls, and other resources that CPMC offers! Contact Joe Cotton, Executive Coordinator, at info@catholicprisonministries.org
Resources
- In 2020, Catholic Prison Ministries (CPMC) became a partner and, more recently, a project of the National Association for Catholic Chaplains (NACC becoming its Fiscal Sponsor) involved in their Partners in Pastoral Care project to develop the three pathways for formation. The Partners Project provides a model of a pastoral care formation program with pathways for formation with suggested content, methodologies, and resources for the program with links to examples. Competencies were developed by reviewing USCCB National Certification Standards based on the Four Standards from Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. i.e., Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Pastoral.
- The Criminal Justice/Corrections competencies are now available in English and Spanish.
- The USCCB Subcommittee on Certification of Ecclesial Ministry and Service has commended this effort as “a valuable resource for formation” because of the comprehensive, holistic, and spiral approach to the formation that offers a variety of pathways for candidates to the experience of success.
