Prison Ministry

St. John’s parishioners participate in several programs offered to the women incarcerated at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic, CT.

New children’s books are collected year-round and donated to The Storybook Project. The books are read aloud by the women, recorded on tape and sent with a message from "Mom" to the children they have left in the care of family, friends or in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. This program is very successful and for the women involved, and the children they leave behind, it is a very important piece of their rehabilitation.

A few of our parishioners are directly involved with the residents as Prayer Partners in the Chrysalis Program. Chrysalis is a faith- based residential housing program for all faith groups at York and functions under the umbrella of A Sacred Place. A Sacred Place was created in 2003 as a non-profit organization to consolidate and implement a variety of programs of which Chrysalis is just one. Residents are specially chosen to live and learn together, supporting one another in their faith journeys. Teachers and Prayer Partners are volunteers, but funds are always needed for books, resources, supplies and a program coordinator. Those involved in this program commit to spending one hour a week for nine months working with a single resident to help prepare her for life beyond the walls of York. St. John’s makes a generous donation each year from their Outreach Budget to help support the work of volunteers and staff persons in this program.

St John’s has recently joined with Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Old Lyme, CT to work with The New Life Ministry which maintains an apartment in New London for women who have been recently released.. Mentors and other volunteers work with them helping them to find jobs, shop for clothing and food , obtain a driver’s license and to eventually become independent and productive members of society. In addition to supplying a mentor to this program, St John’s provides "Welcome Baskets" with a variety of toiletries to each one of the women as they begin their new life.

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (MT.25:40) St. John’s takes those words, spoken by Jesus to his disciples, very seriously!

For more information about our ministry at York, contact the Reverend Mary-Lloyd Brainard, Deacon at 860-767-8095 Ext. 15 or by e-mail at deacon@stjohnsessex.org