Fall
Ministries - Chaplains Workers always serving in an area of pain
By PATRICIA LEFEVERE
Wanted: Prison Chaplain. Ads
like this have appeared on Web sites and in newspapers and magazines. Dominican
Sr. Susan VanBaalen has even gone directly to seminaries and schools of
theology to fill the shortage.
Requirements are a master of divinity or equivalent degree from an
accredited institution and a minimum two years of pastoral experience,
ordination or membership in a religious congregation. A degree in clinical
pastoral education is also highly recommended, said VanBaalen, who directs the
chaplaincy services in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington.
The bureau staffs 220 chaplains posts at its 96 federal
prisons with a population of 140,000 inmates. Two-thirds of the prisons have a
full-time Catholic chaplain; of the 60 Catholic chaplains about 50 are priests,
the rest nuns, she said. A great need exists for Spanish-speaking chaplains
conversant with Latino culture.
Finding chaplains is hard, because the job is so emotionally
and physically draining. Youre always working in an area of pain,
VanBaalen said. Even so, many chaplains serve 20 years. The priest shortage
also affects recruitment, although the bishops have been generous in releasing
men to do prison ministry, she said. Each year chaplains invite their local
bishop to visit the federal prison in their see. Dozens of bishops have visited
inmates, she said.
VanBaalen, who began her prison ministry as a volunteer, holds a
masters degree from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif.
The personal touch that prisoners get from chaplains and their
staff of volunteers helps to alleviate the deep sadness and emptiness
that inmates experience because they feel theyre not a part of anything
wholesome, VanBaalen said.
Last year some 181,000 programs were offered through the Pastoral
Care Department of the Bureau of Prisons, including worship services, choirs,
Bible study, catechumenate, Renew, rosary and meditation. Ive seen
inmates of all faiths reclaim their tradition, said VanBaalen.
Thats very heartening for me.
National Catholic Reporter, September 15,
2000
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