The ICCPPC-Europe representatives have gathered in Lviv, Ukraine.

From 9 till 13 January 2012 in the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has been held the Conference of the European branch of the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care. The ICCPPC-Europe council gathered to discuss further development of the pastoral activities. The Board of the ICCPPC-Europe has gathered on 9 January to analyze the development of the international cooperation in the region. Conference was headed by Rev. Msgr. Pawel Wojtas (Poland), vice-president of the ICCPPC and  Fr. Marc Helfer (France), chief representative of the ICCPPC-Europe.

Among the participants of the gathering were present:

• Rev. Msgr. Malachy Keegan, (Great Britain) Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, National Offender Management Service,
• Fr. Constantin Panteley, Head of The UGCC Office for Pastoral Care in Penitentiary System of Ukraine,
• Fr. Gregory Draus, Head chaplain of the RCC in Ukraine, 
• Fr. Robert Friskovec, Prison Ministry of Slovenia,
• Fr. Martins Kruklis, chief representative (Latvia),
• Martin Schmitz, chief representative (Germany),
• Jan de Cock, Prison Ministry volunteer (Belgium).

During the conference, on January 10, prison chaplains participated at the Divine Liturgy, led by Archbishop Igor (Voznyak), Metropolitan of Lviv. In a sermon His High Excellency Igor said that the Church must maintain spiritual care for people who are behind bars. He thanked the members of the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care because they drew attention to Ukraine, where the process of reestablishment of prison ministry still continues. That same day Archbishop Igor met chaplains, in particular: Vice-President of ICCPPC Msgr. Pawel Wojtas (Head chaplain in Poland), the Head of the ICCPPC-Europe Marc Helfer (Head chaplain in France), Fr. Robert Frishkovec (Head chaplain in Slovenia), Martin Shmitts (Head chaplain in Germany), Msgr. Malachy Keegan (General Catholic chaplain of the Royal prison system of Great Britain), Jan de Cock (volunteer of Prison Ministry, Belgium). Acquainted with the exhibition of works of prisoners from Vienna 2009, His High Excellency expressed his hope that the meeting of Ukrainian chaplains with European chaplaincy will "assist for development of pastoral attention for prisoners".

On 11 January participants of the conference together with Bishop Michael (Koltun), Head of the Department of the UGCC for pastoral care in power structures of Ukraine, visited Lviv penal colony number 48, which is of medium security. By this occasion has been organised a meeting with inmates themselves and with the representatives of stuff of the State penitentiary service in Lviv region. On 12 January Msgr. Malachy Keegan, professional psychologist and psychotherapist shared his knowledges and experiences in a Workshop for prison chaplains of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches on Suicide Awareness – the causes of Suicide and Self-Harm and how we can help prisoners who are vulnerable.

According to Fr. Constantine Panteley, the purpose of such international cooperation is to find approaches, in which the Church can help the State and its law enforcement and judicial authorities to solve the crime problem so when justice would not be separated from mercy.

 

 

 The goal of the workshop was to help prison chaplains of the UGCC and the RCC in Ukraine to gain practical experience of work with prisoners, to explore pastoral approaches and to develop their skills. In particular, they learned how to protect themselves from burnout in this difficult but very important ministry. In the seminar were involved psychologists of prisons # 30 and # 48. Monsignor Malachy, specializing in psycho-therapy and pastoral medicine combined theoretical learning with carrying out the work in small groups with some training tasks. All participants felt the inestimable benefit which will be very useful also in the parish pastoral practice of every priest.

International meeting ended on Jan. 13. Participants have enriched their pastoral experience and got an inspiration for the ministry. Collaboration with the State Penitentiary Service has got new guidelines.

This day, Monsignor Malachy Keegan  visited the former missile base at Brody, which contained Weapons of Mass Destruction (SS-4 "Sandal", SS-5 "Scean", SS-20) in underground launchers of the period of Cold War. After the disarmament and disbandment of the military base this territory was given 10 years ago to a rehabilitation center for persons released after completion of sentence, under the leadership of Igor Gnat. Guest amazed that a place that was once associated with hatred, death and destruction now serves to mercy and revival of human life.

Social worker Nela explains how did they start with rehabilitation.

After conversation with ex-prisoner Sergey.

The underground launcher

Treffen ICCPPC in der Ukranie

Vom 9.–12.1.2012 fand ein Treffen der ICCPPC Europa in Lviv / Ukraine in den Räumen des Priesterseminars der Ukrainisch-Griechisch-Kath-olischen Kirche (UGCC) statt. An diesem Treffen nahm ich als Vertreter der Bundeskonferenz teil.
  Es waren sieben weitere Vertreter anwesend (Frankreich, England, Belgien, Ukraine, Polen, Lettland, Slowenien). Auf dem Programm stand die Besichtigung eines Gefängnisses in Lviv, Begegnungen mit dem Ortsbischof der UGCC sowie mit einem Teil der Gefängnis-seelsorger aus der gesamten Ukraine. Ferner wurden Inhalte eines Leitbildes der ICCPPC
Europa diskutiert. Von Martin Schmitz, JVA Gelsenkirchen