Community Chaplaincy

What is Community Chaplaincy?

Community Chaplaincy supports offenders (and their families) as they re-enter society. It involves a chaplain and numerous volunteers from the faith community. They serve out of a deep sense of vocation and conviction and offer a wide variety of assistance. This service is provided under contract with Correctional Service of Canada although it operates independently of it.

Core Values and Objectives
 

Community Chaplaincy:

Respects the dignity of individuals, and the rights of all members of society.

Believes in the potential for human growth and development.

Respects the social, cultural and religious differences of individual offenders.

Recognizes that offenders have the potential to live as law-abiding citizens.

Purpose

Community Chaplaincy contributes to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to safely and successfully re-enter society by providing them with practical, spiritual, emotional and social support.

Key Roles

Journeying is central to the work of Community Chaplaincy. Key areas of involvement include:

Spiritual support

Emotional support

Support with medical concerns

Mental health support

Practical assistance

Finding appropriate housing

Finding employment

Addictions

Self-help programs

Community access

Various mentorship groups

Others, as needed

Volunteers

Community Chaplaincy needs volunteers who are interested in serving their community and able to commit to journeying with individuals as they re-enter the community from prison. Volunteers receive training and support for the opportunities that exist.

Volunteers are motivated to give of themselves and their time for a variety of reasons which include:

Wish to promote restorative justice

Desire to give back to their community

Care about the safety of their community

Feel drawn towards working with marginalized people

Need a valuable place to offer their free time

Wish to promote healing in their community.

For more information on Community Chaplaincy, or on how to get involved, contact:
Peter Worsley
Community Chaplain
Mennonite Central Committe Alberta

(403)275-6935