Prison Ministry Update

From Lori Wilbert

We have a new warden [ of Stateville Prison ] as of March '05.  Her name is Dee Battaglia.  Dee worked in clinical services previous to her promotion to head warden and often helped me with my classes and chaplaincy work at Stateville through the years in terms of navigating the state system, paperwork, programs, etc. Her promotion is not only making history in Illinois - first female warden of a men's maximum facility in Illinois, but has been a tremendous boost for my work at the prison  My programs (classes I teach) and chaplaincy rounds in cell houses have never been more supported by administration.  This holds true for many others who have come to minister at Stateville or provide a service like parenting, literacy training, etc.  The doors were closed before; Dee has really made an effort to allow more folks in to help inmates.  This is a huge shift in administrative policy and quite refreshing.

House of Healing is a course I currently teach.  It includes:

Spirituality, anger/violence management, addictions and recovery, restorative justice (taking accountability for actions against victims). I cycle through 2 to 3 classes a year of 15 to 20 individuals.  I have waiting lists of over 100 at any given time.  Our current population is 1,600. The needs are great.

My goal is to equip and train others to teach this class at the prison.  Time commitment is demanding but perhaps deaconess or seminary students looking for an internship or fieldwork may be interested.

Click Here to donate on line to Prison Ministry

Reach Out!

To reach out to "the least of these" through Prison Ministry… Pray for healing for victims and offenders. Pray that churches and communities will become more sensitive to criminal justice issues and violence in our country. Call your local jail and/or prison and ask the chaplain if there is anything your church could do to support those incarcerated. Ask what can be done to support individuals when they are released into the community. Become aware of victim assistance programs in your area. Seek ways for your church to become involved in meeting their need.

Make Contact!

Since District and Synod support for the NID Prison Ministry has been eliminated, Lori depends on donations to continue her ministry.

If you or your church would like to get involved with the Prison Minisrty, contact Lutheran Church Charities at (630) 628-6442 or the NID District office at (708) 449-3020