To Teach as Jesus Did:

Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

March 8, 2016

“Catholic Schools in the Year of Mercy:  Visiting the Imprisoned”

This month the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s focus for the Jubilee Year of Mercy is the Corporal Work of Mercy, “Visiting the Imprisoned.” Although this is a work of mercy not easily available for most of us to practice directly, we no doubt will find new ways to think about the imprisoned after viewing this challenging video by Father Ken Omernick, Archdiocesan “Missionary of Mercy”:

Year of Mercy: Visiting the Imprisoned

During this Year of Mercy, St. Joseph School, Big Bend, developed a “Calendar of Mercy” that included the following monthly practices:
 

• Collecting over 400 pairs of shoes for St. Vincent DePaul
   
• Providing to children through Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child
   
• Visiting the sick at LindenGrove and sharing song and gifts with them
   
• Collecting hygiene items for the homeless, shelter the homeless at Open Door Café
   
• Feeding the hungry at Open Door Cafe
   
• Writing letters and coloring pictures of hope and compassion that were delivered to a prison
   
• Collecting canned goods for the Muskego Food Pantry
   

In all our Catholic schools, during this month of March, let us join with our brothers and sisters throughout the archdiocese in living out the Corporal Work of Mercy, “Visiting the Imprisoned,” by:
 

• researching the Jail/Prison Ministry of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and inviting a prison minister to speak to students.
   

http://www.archmil.org/Resources-2.0/Contacts-JailPrison-Ministry-in-the-Archdiocese-of-Milwaukee.htm
 

• studying about St. Dismas, the penitent thief, and supporting the work of prison-related organizations named after him.
   
• learning about Restorative Justice Programs and their impact on society:

http://doc.wi.gov/victim-resources/restorative-justice

http://www.wiscs.org/programs/court_community_services/justice_center/

http://interfaithconference.org/cms-view-page.php?page=restorative-practices-coalition

• praying regularly for the imprisoned, their families, and those who minister to them.

A blessed Jubilee Year of Mercy to all!

Kathleen A. Cepelka, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools