Ministering to the Incarcerated

Chattanooga Deanery

�When the Son of Man comes in His glory, He will sit upon His glorious throne. Then the King will say to those on his right, �Come, you who are blessed by My Father. Inherit the Kingdom. For I was in prison and you visited me.� Then the righteous will say, �Lord, when did we see you in prison and visit you? And the King will say to them in reply, �Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me.� [Matthew 25:31-40]

The Chattanooga Deanery Prison/Jail Ministry is in its 2nd year of infancy. There are 9 counties, 11 confinement facilities, and 12 parishes in our Deanery. The immediate need is for lay and clerical volunteers to be willing to be trained and to minister on a regular basis to the inmates in these confinement facilities. Letters, Visitation, Holy Communion, Prayer, Penance, Anointing, and Ministry Services continue to meet the spiritual needs of the incarcerated.

Here in Hamilton County we have 2 confinement facilities and 6 parishes. Deacon Tom and Father Miguel strive to serve the male and female inmates of the Hamilton County Jail and Silverdale Confinement facilities on a monthly basis providing priestly and diaconal ministry each 3rd Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

If you feel a call to this ministry, contact Deacon Tom at (423) 596-1905/209-5485 or Deacon Tom to learn more about the opportunities for corporal works of mercy in the prison and jail ministry. Training is provided.