The spirit of St. Nicholas is alive and well in the Diocese of Newark! In the early weeks of Advent, people in our parishes and the wider community collected nearly 1000 gifts that were delivered to Grace, Nutley, the Ministry’s host. “We could not do what we do without the support of our parishes who are very generous year after year,” said the Rev. Audrey Hasselbrook, Secretary of the Prison Ministry. “The extra touches to the gifts – a stuffed toy to accompany a book or a soccer ball with knee pads – are signs of care, for people we do not even know.”
Gifts came from all over the diocese in support of the drive. Dedicated volunteers from Grace, Nutley assisted Prison Ministry volunteers in packing the gifts for the next leg of their journey. Gifts were delivered to the Essex County Correctional Facility (Newark), the Hudson County Correctional Facility (Kearny), the Lighthouse Ministry (Union City), and to our Cathedral’s business offices for distribution to the children in our PATCH program.
PATCH is the Prison Ministry’s program directed to assisting families impacted by incarceration and the criminal justice system. Families are recommended for the PATCH program by ECCF’s Social Services department. We bring the children to the jail for a 2-hour contact visit and dinner with their incarcerated parent. The children are then able to attend the ministry’s mentoring programs and activities, receive school uniform vouchers, backpacks, and holiday gifts.
This year we were once again permitted to bring Tim Evan’s service of Lessons and Carols to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. Members of the diocese are welcome to join in the choir for this event.
Contact us at newarkprisonministry@gmail.com to learn more about the Prison Ministry and how your parish can be a part of it.
