June 12 is Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday
Monday, June 06, 2016
June 12, 2016
Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Christ is risen!
We, the Hierarchs of The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, by the grace of God, have been blessed to designate the sixth Sunday of Pascha, Sunday, June 12th of this year, to be Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday in all Orthodox parishes in the U.S.A.
“Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement” (St. John of Kronstadt).
No matter how far someone has fallen, the image of God remains in them. We should see people not as they are, but as they could become through the Holy Orthodox Faith. The Church, through OCPM, offers those in prisons and jails across our country the Life that gives meaning to all life and that Life is able to bring healing to a broken humanity.
By assisting Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry each of us is able to visit Jesus in prison. Please remember “these the least of my brethren” by assisting OCPM with this vital ministry. We ask you to please pass a second offering tray on Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, June 12th and send these gifts to:
OCPM
Post Office Box 1597 New York, NY 10025
With blessings and love in our Risen Lord,
+Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania
Orthodox Church in America
Liaison to OCPM, Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America
Archpriest Stephen Powley
Executive Director of OCPM