Restorative Justice Ministry seeks new members

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SALT LAKE CITY — Local Catholics interested in ministering to people who are incarcerated are being sought by the diocese’s Restorative Justice Ministry, which covers the Utah State Correctional Facility and the Salt Lake County Jail.

“This ministry is important because we are called to meet those that are imprisoned and see Christ in them,” said Father Stephen Tilley, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Draper, who has served as spiritual director of Restorative Justice for the past year. “In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, we see this truth revealed to us by Jesus Christ.  ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick; or in prison and did not take care of you? Then he answered them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ Simply put, we are called to love everyone – especially the least.”

During the pandemic, the ministry at the prison and jail had to be paused. Over the past four months, it has been reactivated, although on a limited basis due to jail and prison restrictions. However, with the opening of the new Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City on June 22, Fr. Tilley and others in the ministry hope they may soon be able to offer more support to incarcerated individuals.

“We are currently in the process of rebuilding a lot of our prison and jail ministries,” Fr. Tilley said in an email interview. “Many places limited visitation during the Covid pandemic, and some places still have limited visitation and ministerial opportunities. However, we are hopeful that the prison will allow more access after the prison moves to its new location.”

Pat Buniva, who has been a prison minister for 15 years, is one of the ministry’s six current members. She moved to Utah in 1977, and, living in Sandy, often passed by the Utah State Correctional Facility. She felt drawn to the prison, she said. “Every time I saw the prison I was moved. It was almost like, ‘Yes, yes, yes — OK, someday, some day.’”

A year after retiring from a nursing career, Buniva joined the ministry.

“Everybody deserves a chance to be their best selves, so if we can go there and respect them and care about them and encourage them, support them, it matters; you can tell, it matters to them,” she said. “Every time I saw that prison, I was prompted to do this. I would encourage anybody who feels that prompt to respond.”

Prior to the pandemic, Buniva and her partner in ministry Phil Hofstetter would visit the men’s mental health unit, the general population area and the Oquirrh unit each once a week. She would also visit the women’s unit weekly with a female partner.

During the pandemic, she and other volunteers ensured the inmates received religious materials; no other contact was permitted. After an almost-two-year break, they were able to resume visiting the prison this spring.

Since resuming the ministry, Buniva and Hofstetter have only been able to go back to the men’s mental health unit. Buniva hopes that will change once all the prison population is resettled at the new facility.

“By virtue of the fact that we go there, I believe that [those who are incarcerated] understand that we value them and care about them and that we love them and wish every good thing for them,” Buniva said.

Hofstetter said he was nervous the first time he visited the prison.

“Going in, for the first time, I was quite apprehensive, having concerns about being confronted, or caught in a violent prison riot, held hostage, or the like,” he said.  “I was surprised when the people who came to the Mass (service) were quite normal. In fact, most of them were very nice and prayerful. When I had the opportunity to speak, they all listened with interest. My eyes were opening to the great need that is in the ‘system’ for Catholics to share their faith. I saw and experienced the desire of the inmates to learn about their faith and their yearning for God, for forgiveness and the relief the Gospel gave them.”

During their time at the prison the ministers provide a Communion service and readings from the previous weekend, along with emotional support. Each visit lasts an hour. Prior to Covid, the services were well-attended, but participation has been minimal since they have resumed the ministry.

“It was very sad the impact Covid had, because many of the men who were Catholic, some of whom had been converted, didn’t return,” Buniva said.

Among the others who have helped minister to those behind bars are Ruth Dillon, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, and Deacon Greg Werking from Blessed Sacrament Parish, both of whom “have played large roles in the planning and coordinating of this ministry. We also have a few volunteers that have been extremely faithful to the prison ministry,” Fr. Tilley said. “They really have shown perseverance and embraced the cross with the inmates during the Covid restrictions. I am grateful for the love that they have shown to the inmates.”

The Restorative Justice Ministry has openings for volunteers to serve during the week or on weekends. There is no set number of new ministers needed.

“We definitely need as many volunteers as we can get,” Fr. Tilley said. “The new prison has about seven chapels, and I believe that lay volunteers should enter in groups of at least two. We need lay ministers that are willing to bring the Eucharist to the inmates, break open the Word of God in Bible studies, and pray with them during their time served. Just as Jesus encounters us in our brokenness, we need to encounter our inmates.

“I hope someone reading this article has the courage to answer the call and serve some of the least of those among us,” he added. “The sacrifice on our part is temporary, but the reward is eternal.”

The Restorative Justice Ministry will hold an inquiry session on Aug. 7 to answer the questions of those who may be interested in this ministry (see box).