As Alaska prisons fill, Catholic outreach evolving

The number of Alaska’s prisoners is increasing at a much faster rate than the rest of the nation, but as it expands, Catholic prison ministry in the Archdiocese of Anchorage is also growing.

A recent report by the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center indicates the state’s prison population grew from 4,173 to 5,069 between 2000 and 2006. During that time, the number of female prisoners rose from 284 to more than 500.

Reaching out to this population is not new to Alaska Catholics but historically volunteers have been few, especially when compared to the organized network of Protestants.

Statewide, roughly 2,200 volunteers serve in Alaska’s prisons. That represents about 500 churches — the vast majority are Protestant.

Smaller Catholic outreaches in Southcentral consist of a handful of priests and lay Catholics working in the Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Anchorage, Eagle River and Palmer.

In May, however, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz appointed newly ordained Deacon Curt Luenberger, of Palmer, to begin coordinating a more unified archdiocesan prison ministry.

To begin, Deacon Luenberger has focused most of his attention on expanding the existing ministry at the Palmer Correctional Center near his hometown. Last summer, Catholic volunteers there grew from about four to roughly a dozen.

“We’ve gotten more interest and more volunteers,” Luenberger told the Anchor. But ultimately he’d like to see the volunteer base grow in all prisons across the archdiocese.

“I would like to get in contact with pastors in parishes and work through them,” he said.

At the very minimum, Luenberger said it is important to celebrate Mass regularly in all prisons. Then, as outreaches grow, he would like to see more Bible study and catechesis opportunities.

Along those lines, he noted one program that he said has great potential. The Dismas Ministry is a national Catholic outreach for prisoners. It provides free Catholic Bibles and faith study materials for inmates, who then regularly meet with volunteers to explore questions about the faith. The Dismas program operates in 630 jails and prisons in 41 states. Last month, it began at the Palmer Correctional Facility.

“Having Dismas throughout the archdiocese would be a goal,” Luenberger said.

As he begins to coordinate varied outreaches across the archdiocese, Luenberger has a small but committed core to work from.

In the Palmer prison, Father Tom Brundage and Father Nelson Marilag celebrate weekly Mass. In November, the ministry expanded to include a Wednesday night study group to explore Pope John Paul II’s theological work on the human person, “Theology of the Body.”

In Anchorage, volunteer Kess Frye prays with male inmates at the Anchorage Correctional Complex and a small group of parishioners from Holy Family Cathedral have long-provided Catholic prayer and Communion services for female inmates at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. Additionally, two parishioners from St. Andrew Church in Eagle River teach parenting classes for women at Hiland.

In Seward, Father Richard Tero, of Sacred Heart Church, celebrates weekly Mass at the maximum security Spring Creek Correctional Center.

“I usually go by myself,” he told the Anchor.

Since the prison opened in 1988, Mass has been a weekly event but Father Tero said it is difficult to do more.

He said it would take a dedicated volunteer to focus more time and resources on catechesis or a Bible study for Seward inmates.

Further south, at Kenai’s Wildwood Correctional Complex, longtime prison volunteer Scott Earsley teams with Oblate Father Andy Sensenig to offer weekly Lectio Divina, a form of prayer that involves reflecting on Scripture.

Earsley, a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Soldotna, has worked in prison ministry since the mid-1990s. In recent years, he has helped lead an ecumenical Christian outreach at Wildwood, which includes 40 volunteers from various Christian denominations. The volunteers provide spiritual retreats, as well as weekly follow-up visits throughout the year.

Our Lady of the Angels parishioner Margaret Menting also works with Kenai inmates at the Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility, where she and an Episcopalian offer weekly Bible studies for men and women.

Nearly every prison volunteer interviewed by the Anchor said the greatest need was more people — both to reach those in prison as well as those who are released and need support to get their lives back on track.

“There is always room for more volunteers,” Earsley told the Anchor.

He added that his time volunteering has been a blessing.

“I went because I thought God was calling me,” he said. “I did not realize what a blessing it was to be present to these men and to journey with them as they are drawn into a closer relationship with God.”

Holy Family Cathedral parishioner Petie Strang helps lead weekly prayer services at Hiland, where she noted a need for more priests, especially when it comes to providing the sacraments.

“I would like to see a priest or a deacon take charge of it,” she told the Anchor.

Father Brundage said his work with prisoners in Palmer has shown him that many inmates are truly grateful for the Mass, but they also long to see a greater Catholic presence in general.

“One time, I asked the men to stay after Mass to see what they need from us Catholics,” he said. “They wanted presence. The men wanted us out there longer.”

For those who decide to volunteer, they don’t need to be trained theologians, Luenberger explained.

“We talk with prisoners, and sometimes they have questions about the Catholic faith or the Bible,” he said. “We need people who are well-grounded in their faith, but they don’t need to be a theologian. Mostly, the prisoners need to know that Christ is still with them — we are there to bring Christ to them.”

To learn more about prison ministry opportunities, contact Deacon Luenberger at 746-1275 or e-mail curt@lelabs.com.