Catholic Charities
Prison Ministry
It is our ongoing mission to see that a priest, religious sister, deacon or certified volunteer is visiting each state prison and meeting the spiritual needs of its inmates. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at a prison in your area, please feel free to contact Deacon Jim Hunt at Sacred Heart Church in Warner Robins at 478-923-0124 or the Director of Catholic Charities at 912-201-4058. Deacon Hunt is the official contact person for Prison Ministry in our Diocese regarding credentialing. He is also available to mediate problem situations.
Resources are available through Dismas Ministry which provides inmates with free bibles, prayer books and other materials. They sponsor the annual National Catholic Prison Ministry Conference.
There are three ICE Detention Facilities in our diocese:
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Stewart Detention Center
El Refugio, a hospitality house located at 655 Main Street in Lumpkin, GA – right outside the gates of Stewart Detention Center. Its purpose is to serve the family and friends of men detained. The house is open on weekends to welcome guests. More information is found at . You can also call 229-234-9022.
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Irwin County Detention Center
Casa Colibrí, hospitality house in Ocilla. The South Georgia Immigrant Support Network (SGISN) opened a house to provide for families visiting detained loved ones. The house is now open every weekend from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, managed by local volunteers. During the week, volunteer legal professionals, interpreters, and visitors utilize the house as well. All services are offered free of charge. Casa Colibrí is located four miles from the Irwin County Detention Center. Call 1-877-545-2473 for assistance in Spanish or English. Contact or visit the Casa Colibrí Facebook page.
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Charlton County Detention Center
List of Prisons and Volunteers
| Prison | County | Address | Parish Contact | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta State Medical Prison | Richmond | Grovetown, GA 30813 706-855-4700 |
St. Teresa, Grovetown Gene Griner, 706-733-1900 Fr. Mike Ingram |
Mass: 4th Wednesday of the month 2pm - 4pm |
| Autry State Prison | Mitchell | Pelham, GA 31779 229-294-2940 |
Immaculate Conception, Moultrie Paul Everett, 229-344-8116 Fr. Alfonso Gutierrez |
Mass and reconciliation once a month |
| Calhoun State Prison | Calhoun | Morgan, GA 39866 229-849-5000 |
St. Teresa, Albany Deacon Jay Dallas, 229-886-5955 Kairos Weekends - Brother Jason Mulhenkamp & Brother Levis Kuwa |
Mass once a month. Tuesdays: 6:30 pm Communion Service. Thursdays: 6:30 pm Catholic Class twice/month |
| Central State Prison | Bibb | Macon, GA 31208 478-417-2906 |
Holy Spirit Church
Fr. David Koetter, 478-788-6386 |
|
| Coastal State Prison | Chatham | Garden City, GA 31418 912-965-6330 |
Blessed Sacrament, Savannah Deacon Jerry Clark, 912-356-6980 Fr. Brett Brannen |
Saturday: 7-9 pm Communion services Volunteers: Dcn. Jerry Clark, Joe Moriarty, Walt Kessel |
| Coffee Correctional Facility (P) | Coffee | Nicholls, GA 31554 912-345-5058 |
St. Theresa, Cordele Fr. Paulinus Okpala, 229-273-3446 |
Thursday: 2-4 pm, Mass with catechesis and confessions |
| D. Ray James Correctional Facility (P) | Charlton | Folkston, GA 31537 912-496-6242 |
Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Mary's Fr. Mariusz Fuks & Fr. Bill Leahy, 912-882-4718 |
Monday: 6-9 pm Spanish Mass, catechesis, rosary, confessions |
| Dodge State Prison | Dodge | Chester, GA 31012 478-358-7200 |
Holy Redeemer, McRae Fr. Stephen Pontzer & Fr. Jake Almeter, 229-568-2002 |
Wednesday: 2 pm Mass in English w/ bilingual readings and homilies |
| Dooly State Prison | Dooly | Unadilla, GA 31091 478-627-2000 |
St. Theresa, Cordele Fr. Paulinus Okpala, 229-273-3446, Dcn, Jim Hunt |
1st Monday: Mass, Fr. Paulinus 3rd Monday: Dcn. Jim Hunt |
| Federal Correctional Institute | Jesup | Jesup, GA 31545 912-427-0870 |
St. Joseph, Jesup Fr. Keith O'Neill, 912-427-8276 |
Mass as requested |
| Georgia State Prison | Tattnall | Reidsville, GA 30453 912-557-7301 |
Sacred Heart, Vidalia Deacon Joe Claroni, 912-537-7709 Fr. Ben Dallas |
1st & 3rd Tuesdays: Mass |
| Homerville State Prison | Clinch | Homerville, GA 31634 912-487-3052 |
no services at present | |
| Johnson State Prison | Johnson | Wrightsville, GA 31096 478-864-4100 |
Immaculate Conception Church, Dublin Fr. Stephen Pontzer & Fr. Jake Altmeter, 478-272-0266 |
2nd & 4th Tuesdays: 2 pm Mass |
| Lee State Prison | Lee | Leesburg, GA 31763 229-759-6453 |
St. Teresa, Albany Deacon Jay Dallas, 229-886-5955 |
Wednesday: 6:30 pm Communion Service |
| Macon State Prison | Macon | Oglethorpe, GA 31068 478-472-3400 |
Sacred Heart, Warner Robins Deacon Jim Hunt, 478-923-0124, Fr. Carlos Pinzon |
Dcn, Jim every Wednesday, 2nd Wednesday: Mass with Fr.Carlos Pinzon |
| McRae Federal Prison | Telfair | McRae, GA 31055 229-868-7778 |
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| Montgomery State Prison | Montgomery | Mount Vernon, GA 30445 912-583-3600 |
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| Muskogee County Prison | Muscogee | Columbus, GA 31908 706-653-4974 |
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| Pulaski State Prison | Pulaski | Hawkinsville, GA 31036 478-783-6000 |
St. Theresa Church, Cordele Fr. Paulinus Okpala, 229-273-3446 Sr. Lucy Comer, 229-385-3930 |
2nd Friday |
| Rogers State Prison | Tattnall | Reidsville, GA 30453 912-557-7301 |
St. Christopher Parish, Claxton | |
| Rutledge State Prison | Muscogee | Columbus, Ga 31908 706-568-2340 |
St. Anne Parish, Columbus Deacon John Quillen, 706-561-8678 Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy & Fr. Brian O'Shaughnessy |
Sunday evening ministry by Dcn. Quillen, Team: John Cobis, Steve Wilson, Tom Ray, Dcn. Quillen. |
| Smith State Prison | Tattnall | Glennville, Ga 30427 912-654-5000 |
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| Stewart Detention Facility | Lumpkin | Lumpkin, Ga 31815 229-838-5000 |
No Catholic Services at this time Contact El Refugio (see information above) |
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| Telfair State Prison | Telfair | Helena, GA 31037 229-868-7721 |
Immaculate Conception Church, Dublin Fr. Stephen Pontzer & Fr. Jake Altmeter, 478-272-0266 |
Monday: 6:30 pm Mass, Fr. Pontzer & Fr. Almeter 2nd & 4th Thursdays: 6:30 pm Mass, Fr. Francois Pellissier |
| Valdosta State Prison | Lowndes | Valdosta, GA 31601 229-333-7900 |
St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta Deacon Paul Worth, 229-244-2430, Fr. Francois Pellissier |
Thursday evenings for 2 hours, Quarterly Eucharist, RCIA on Wednesdays when they have candidates |
| Ware State Prison | Ware | Waycross, GA 31501 912-285-6400 |
St. Joseph Parish, Waycross | |
| Washington State Prison | Washington | Davisboro, GA 31018 478-348-5814 |
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| Wayne State Prison | Wayne | Odum, GA 31555 912-5886-2244 |
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| Wheeler Correctional Facility | Wheeler | Alamo, GA 30411 912-568-1731 |
Holy Redeemer, McRae, Fr. Stephen Pontzer (Dublin), 478-272-0266 Sr. Lucy Comer, 229-385-3930 |
1st Sunday: scripture service and Communion Service |
| Wilcox State Prison | Wilcox | Abbeville, GA 31001 229-467-3000 |
St. Theresa, Cordele Fr. Paulinus Okpala, 229-273-3446 Fr. Francois Pellissier |
1st Friday: Fr. Paulinus 3rd Friday: Fr. Francois Kairos |
| Irving County Detention Center | Ocilla | no services at present |
