High School and College
Interested in prison ministry but wonder if you are too young to volunteer? Check out the below resources and programs to learn about innovative ways that young adults can grow and learn with those affected by incarceration.
Visit our ministry listings page to explore ministries across the U.S. that serve people affected by incarceration.
Looking for Resources?
CPMC collects excellent resources that address numerous prison-related issues and their connections to the Catholic Church. These resources are helpful for learning inside and outside of the classroom. Click on the topics below to explore these resources and to learn more!
How Can You
Get Involved?
- There are numerous ways for high school and college students to directly engage in issues pertaining to people most affected by incarceration. See below for programs that educate and provide experience for
- Become a Pen Pal
- Take a Class in Prison
- Participate in a Year of Service Program
- Attend IFTJ
CPMC
Featured Program
Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition recognizes Georgetown University’s Prison Scholars Program at the D.C. Jail as our high school and college featured program.
Prisons Scholars
Program
For more information about Georgetown’s Prisons and Justice Initiative and the Prison Scholars in the D.C. Jail program, click on their website link below.
Become a Pen Pal
A common way that people first become involved in prison ministry is through writing letters to an inmate. The North American Order of Malta Prison Apostolate Pen Pal Programs offer volunteers the opportunity to develop an anonymous relationship with an inmate through two-way correspondence. This can be a great project for high school theology and college classes!
For a resource packet on becoming a pen-pal, click here. To watch an Order of Malta Pen Pal instruction video or to learn more about the pen pal programs, click on one of the buttons below.
Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God.
- Pope Francis -
Take a Class in Prison
The Inside Out Prison Exchange Program provides traditional college students and incarcerated students the opportunity to study and learn together. Over 150 institutions of higher education across the U.S. offer Inside Out courses including the following Catholic colleges and universities: Notre Dame, DePaul, Xavier (OH), LaSalle, St. Joseph’s (PA), and Manhattan.
Participate in a Year of Service Program
Catholic Volunteer Network promotes and supports faith-based service programs in the U.S. and internationally. You can use their Search Volunteer Programs page to explore service opportunities programs that work with prison and jail ministry, reentry services, advocacy, and restorative justice.
Attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In
for Justice
Hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) is the largest Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. Each November, over 1,500 high school and college students join outside of Washington, D.C. to learn about major issues including mass incarceration, immigration, restorative justice, and environmental justice. Click on the links below to learn more and to watch CPMC presentations at the 2019 IFTJ conference.
