PrisonMinistry

Dear sisters and brothers in the Risen Christ, Hello my name is Fr. Nick Ferreras, the Catholic Chaplain at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary (medium security). Hello my name is Brad Taylor, a Lay Catholic Chaplain at the Riverbend Institution (minimum security) and Saskatchewan Penitentiary (maximum security).

We invite you, to live out your baptismal calling, by offering your time, gifts and talents as a Catholic Chaplaincy Volunteer in this dynamic and very much need Diocesan ministry.

We have the honor and privilege of walking along side many men who are in prison, their families and the staff who support these prodigal sons of our community in their desire to change and to heal. We, as a faith community, have a Gospel and moral responsibility to work with those men, especially our fathers, our sons, and our brothers who desire to change and live as contributing citizens of society, many of whom, who have like the prodigal son, have come to their senses and begun their journey home to faith, family and community.

Some of the ways to do that is by meeting and supporting the men and their families by attending the Catholic Chapel Services at Riverbend on Saturday at 5:30pm or at 7:15pm at the SK Penn itself. We offer various programming, catechesis, bible studies throughout the week. We need volunteers to take approved men to begin their reintegration into the community by offering them rides to Church. Our job as the Chaplains is to organize the security clearances, and provide you the ongoing training, mentoring and support.

We speak only as a Catholic Chaplain in a federal institution, as many of you know, there are other provincial institutions, centres, groups homes, agencies that work with youth, men and women in the Prince Albert area, there are families of the inmates who needs support, there are the victims and their families who equally needs support and the ministry of the Church. As well the many men and women who staff and live out their personal ministry in such places. So, if you do not feel called to serve with either of us......... serve somewhere else that is suited to your gifts, talents and interests.

This last March, Our Chaplaincy Team and Volunteers has offered an orientation for five deacons and one seminarian of our Diocese. They have now more awareness of what are the issues and concerns of related to Prisons and it impact in parish life. Soon their voices will be joining ours and many others, who are calling the catholic community to be engaged in this key ministry, that Jesus has commissioned His Church to be engaged in.We leave you with this, above all else, love your kids, be good to each other, be involved in your communities and organizations, and be open to the Spirit of God leading you to places you dare not go.

We thank you for this opportunity to share with you this ministry of the Diocese, this call to respond to Christ and His Gospel by visiting Him in prison. You can reach us by calling the office:

Fr. Nicanor Ferraras at 765-8344; or
Chaplain Brad Taylor at 765- 8217.

Do you have an interest in working with those in prison, feeling called to offer you time and gifts to be involved in the PA Diocesan Catholic Prison Ministry at a Federal Correctional Institution. Have we got the place for you!
Regular Catholic Chapel Service is on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (Riverbend) and 7:15 p.m. at (SK Pen).
Please call us and we will help empower you to engage in a dynamic ministry of being a Catholic Chaplaincy volunteer.

Fr. Nicanor Ferreras -
Chaplain at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary 765-8344
Mr. Brad Taylor -
Chaplain at Riverbend Institution/SKPen Maximum Security Unit at 765-8217

Note: Everyone must have completed a security clearance before entering the Institution. Quality On-Site Training and mentoring will be provided.
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Hello, my name is Roy Wilmhoff. I am the Roman Catholic Chaplain at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre. I am a lay person who has been given the privilege of journeying with the men incarcerated at the Correctional Centre, as well as with the staff working there. Along with the other members of the Native Ministry team of Kateri House and our volunteers, we support men and women who are, or have been, in trouble with the law. I provide chaplaincy services directly to men in prison at the Correctional Centre, and I volunteer several times per week at Riverbend Institution and Saskatchewan Penitentiary. In the community we support men who are in the process of reintegrating into society. We also work with the families of some of the inmates. We provide spiritual support in the form of journeying with people and leading Bible studies, and also supply food and clothing to those in need. We work with the needs of the people as they present themselves.

We invite you to join us as a volunteer to experience the gospel joy that comes from fullfilling our baptismal mandate expressed by Jesus in Mt 25: 35-36 when he said: “ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

God Bless,

Chaplain Roy Wilmhoff at 306-922-8582 (Kateri House)

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