Prison Ministry

This ministry serves about 37 correctional facilities in the 12-county Archdiocese which includes jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities. Prison Ministry provides a Catholic sacramental presence, along with spiritual direction and support to inmates of all faiths. There are about 90 active, Catholic volunteers which include priests, deacons, and lay persons from the Archdiocese ministering in these facilities.

Prison Ministry also facilitates REC (Residents Encounter Christ) which is a two-day weekend spiritual retreat. REC is built around the Paschal Mystery: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In this process, prison participants experience the forgiveness and love of God and a renewed spirit of hope and peace. The REC retreats are put on once a year at three different prisons: Lino Lakes, Stillwater, and Rush City. Anywhere from 40 to 80 inmates attend, and many inmates who have previously been through REC assist with the retreat.