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| Area men learning how to bring ministry to prison |
| By sj-r.com - Steven Spearie |
| Published: 11/25/2013 |
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The first time Philip Huber went into Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro to conduct Catholic Bible study last year, an inmate recognized him as a former shift commander for the Illinois Department of Corrections. Huber, 51, decided to go into prison ministry after retiring in April 2012 from a 31-year career with IDOC, including 12 years as a lieutenant in internal affairs division at the Taylorville Correctional Center. Huber went into prison ministry at the urging of his pastor, the Rev. Daniel Willenborg, the liaison for prison ministry for the Springfield Catholic Diocese, as a way to give back to the community. The inmate, Huber said, was curious about his newfound role, on the other side of the bars. “He asked me, ‘Why do you want to come in here?’” Huber recalled. “By now, I think they realize that I want to share Jesus Christ with them and help them become closer to him. “(Prison) is a different environment. When I worked for IDOC, I always tried to be respectful of the inmates.” Huber and Terry Tuttle of Springfield, who also works for IDOC as an information services specialist, are part of a Prison Ministry Leadership training program launched in August by Lewis University and the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI). Eight students from the state’s six Catholic dioceses are participating in workshops and online classes during the 15-month program. At the end, students will be certified from the American Catholic Correctional Chaplains Association, an organization accredited by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read More. |
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