Ukrainian prison chaplains receive professional training
An all-Ukrainian seminar was held in the town of Krasyliv in Khmelnytskyi Region on 18-21 February 2008 on the initiative of the Head of the Ukrainian Inter-confessional Christian Mission’s Board, Fr. Hryhorii Draus (chaplain of the Roman Catholic prison ministry in Ukraine), reports RISU. The seminar’s objective was professional training and exchange of experience for persons conducting Christian ministry in prisons. The aim was also to promote active cooperation with Christian confessions taking into account specificities of Ukraine’s criminal system institutions and penitentiary institutions. The story was reported by the press service of the Kolomyia and Chernivtsi Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) Eparchy.
Heads of the regional departments of Odessa and Khmelnytskyi made reports aimed at improving cooperation between prison personnel, chaplains and volunteers. The officials recognized the positive changes of convicts under the influence of pastoral care.
”Upon completion of the cycle of lectures (three sessions of total 72 academic hours), the ministers, chaplains and volunteers participating in the training seminar will receive a certificate qualifying them to conduct ministries in prisons and provide professional support to convicts modeled on practices of European democratic countries,” stated Fr. Hryhorii Draus.
Ukrainian Interdenominational Christian Mission Spiritual and Charitable Care in Prisons includes twelve confessions and is part of the World Association of Prison Ministry.