New York, June 20, 2023
Photo: theocpm.org
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America have blessed July 30 as Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday.
The day is dedicated to learning more about the work of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, which is an agency of the Assembly of Bishops, reports the Orthodox Church in America.
The OCA explains the work of OCPM:
For two decades, OCPM has served thousands of Orthodox and non-Orthodox prisoners across the United States through its longstanding correspondence ministry, catechetical program, and coaching Orthodox clergy and laity how to best visit and serve prisoners near them.
Today, the ministry continues to expand, assigning relationship managers to Orthodox men and women in prison to minister and assure each soul in prison has the opportunity to access clergy, the sacraments, and have a deep relationship with the Church, even after release.
Through all its ministry programs, OCPM ultimately aims to fulfill Christ’s command to visit Him in prison (Matthew 25:36). As a result, families are reunited, marriages are healed, and thousands of incarcerated men and women have a new sense of peace and restored order in their lives.
The OCPM website offers a packet of documents for Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, including a sample homily, an OCPM fact sheet, and bulletin inserts.
In October 2017, OCPM reported that there were more than 300 Orthodox catechumens in Americans jails and prisons being helped by the ministry. The organization also sent thousands of icons, Bibles, and other books to prisoners throughout the pandemic.
Visit the official OCPM site to learn more about this important ministry, which is entirely funded by parish and individual donations.
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