Prison Ministries Conference - 02/14/15
"I was in prison and you came to me." (Matt. 25:36)
Despite an unexpected morning blizzard, our parish hosted a very successful two-day Prison Ministry Conference (Feb. 13 & 14) with the hopes of planting the seeds for this ministry throughout Northeastern Ohio. Archpriest John Kowalczuk, rector of St. Michael's in Jermyn, PA, Chancellor of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, and Director of Field Education at St. Tikhon's Seminary spoke of his 27 year ministry as Chaplain at Waymart's Forensic Treatment Center.
Fr. John admitted his initial reluctance at getting involved in such a ministry, but soon realized that the broken, demoralized individual he was ministering to were no different than any of us, for we are all "broken" and imprisoned by our sins - some just worse off than others.