We choose to believe with hope in their innate goodness and strive to present comfort for their suffering and peace for their hearts. By using these Godly virtues of patience and faith in goodness – all of which are virtues of love - we may be able to bring these people to a conversion of their hearts and thus, repentance.
Remember, the Shepherd is concerned for all His sheep, most especially the lost and the blackest of them all.
Background of the Catholic Prison Ministry (CPM)
The Catholic Prison Ministry is a church based non profit organization within the auspices of the Archdiocesan Organization for Human Development, an umbrella organization of the Catholic Church. The CPM started as a small church-based ministry at the Holy Family Church, Kajang, in 1985, following the move of the prisoners from the old Pudu Prison at Kuala Lumpur to Kajang.
Over the past 21 years of its existence, this low profile ministry (in view of the sensitivities and stigma associated with it) has grown from about 20 pioneer members from the Holy Family Church Kajang, to about 160 registered members presently from all over the Klang Valley.
These members come from various parish-level Prison Ministries which were gradually set up beginning with the Holy Family Church, Kajang, St. Ignatius, Assumption & St. Francis Xavier Churches around Petaling Jaya; the Visitation Church, Seremban, St. Jude, Rawang, Good Shepherd, Setapak as well as 3 Klang Churches based out of the Holy Redeemer Church.
The coordinators of these various church-level ministries form the Central Executive Committee, and they meet monthly at the Church of the Assumption, Petaling Jaya to coordinate the overall activities of the CPM.
The Guiding Chaplain
The present appointed Chaplain of the CPM is Rev. Father Philips Muthu, who is the parish priest of the Church of the Assumption. Fr. Philips Muthu has been instrumental in the development of in-prison care for young offenders at Kajang Prison.Mission of Catholic Prison Ministry
The Mission of the Prison Ministry is to serve the incarcerated in Prisons, a service that is founded on the teachings in the Holy Bible in particular the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25 Versus 35 to 36 which is quoted below:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in”. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to visit me”
Aims and Objectives
To plan, implement and evaluate socio-pastoral programs for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Malaysia.
To advise, assist, co-ordinate and implement such forms of relief, welfare, social services and development programs for prisoners, ex-prisoners and /or their families that are keeping with Christian understanding of Charity, Development and Justice.
To liaise with the relevant Government Authorities, Foreign Missions / Embassies, United Nations Organizations and other International Prison Fellowship bodies to coordinate aid, help and advice for the proper implementation of services and programs in Prisons.
To collaborate and work together with other Christians, Christian & Non Christian Organizations, as well as Non-Governmental Organizations involved in similar social welfare services.
To set up additional services to provide for new emerging needs of prisoners, ex-prisoners and /or their families, e.g. Establishing half-way homes for prisoners, counseling for families of prisoners, aid for children of prisoners, aid in the reconciliation of the prisoner with his family, society, himself and with God.
To facilitate the formation of Prison Fellowships at Parish (Church) and Diocesan (Regional) Levels.
To plan, implement and /or participate in social welfare activities to reach out to young offenders in prison to provide academic and motivational education in prisons. To reach out to children of prisoners and substance-abuse addicts outside of prison and to provide assistance for educational needs and other material plus spiritual support.
Key Activities of the Catholic Prison Ministry (CPM)
Prison Care
A. Counseling
Members make regular and consistent weekly visits to the male and female prisons at Kajang, Sungei Buloh, and Seremban to meet various groups of prisoners serving sentence or under remand. We do this to demonstrate the love of God for repentant sinners and a way to salvation through the Good News.
We also provide counseling sessions on positive thinking, motivation and encouragement to help prisoners repent and change past lifestyles.
B. Babies, Children & Mothers in Prison
Our members also offer medical and paediatric services for babies born in prison. One of our volunteers is a qualified paediatrician and she visits the prisons on a fortnightly basis and attends to the medical needs of children. There are an average of 20 babies and children below 3 years in the prison at a time.
At the same time, we provide both pre- and antenatal medical care to mothers and pregnant women in prison. Check-ups are regularly done and advice given to the mothers on personal hygiene and baby care by a qualified volunteer midwife.
Meanwhile, formula milk, cereals, vitamins, supplements, sanitary napkins, detergents, diapers, baby’s clothes (among others) are seen to, as well.
The cost of supplying such items and services, which is done on a monthly basis, amounts to RM2, 500-00.
C. Juvenile Prisons Academy
To build confidence in juvenile detainees and show we have faith in them, we help provide free academic education for juvenile offenders to prepare them for PMR, SPM and STPM examinations. 22 qualified and experienced volunteer teachers teach various academic subjects in the Kajang Male and Female Prison from Mondays to Sundays.
The Prison’s Department has identified a total of 72 new students (Juvenile Offenders) who have been registered to sit for PMR, SPM & STPM examinations for the year 2006 and 2007.
A total of 7 large prison cells have been converted to classrooms, and the CPM is in the process of working with the Prisons Department to equip these class rooms with chairs, tables, fans, etc, to render them conducive for education.
The CPM has also volunteered to set up and equip a library within the Prisons system for the benefit of the Juvenile Offenders.
Out of Prison – After Care
A. Addiction / Substance Abuse
We work closely with our partner, Halfway Homes, to encourage released prisoners, drug addicts, alcoholics and other substance-abuse addicts to undergo proper 2-year rehabilitation programs.
On another level, we provide moral and material assistance (groceries, vegetables, meats, etc) to Halfway Homes and assist in coordinating rehabilitation programs for the purpose of integrating this target group of people back into society.
B. HIV / Full Blown Aids
The ravages of AIDS may seem passive in general but their incidence is high among prisoners. That’s why we provide help to our network partners involved in the operation of Homes for ex-prisoners and addicts who are HIV-positive or who have full-blown AIDS. This includes organizing fellowship events and outings for ex-prisoners and inmates of the various partner Drug Rehabilitation. Correction Centres.
C. Outreach to Families of Prisoners/ Single Parents
The CPF is also active in providing material assistance to children and families of prisoners and working towards reconciliation of prisoners and addicts with their families.
To be proactive in the prevention of such social ills, we conduct Awareness Programs on the Consequences of Crime, HIV and AIDs to youth in schools and Churches.
In addition, we arrange for special free academic tuition classes for children of prisoners, and drug and substance-abuse addicts, to enable them to become useful citizens of the country.
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