Prison religion includes the religious beliefs and practices of prison inmates, usually stemming from or including concepts surrounding their imprisonment and accompanying lifestyle. “Prison Ministry” is a larger concept, including the support of the spiritual and religious needs of prison guards and staff, whose work in an often demanding and brutal environment often creates a special need for pastoral care, similar to the care that is extended to the military, police officers, and fire fighters.
Prison Experiences: As a street outreach worker for the Outaouais Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Centre, I was invited to work with the English-speaking population of the Hull Prison (Full Body Contact) in the 90s. I worked as a CIPTO street outreach worker (Travailleur de Rue) in the Hull and Aylmer sectors from 1993 to 2000, earning my living as a bi-vocational minister.
