St. Thomas' has been given spiritual oversight of the (Anglican) Prison Ministry of Her Majesty's Penitentiary and the St. John's Lock-up by the Bishop and Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador.
A ministry team from St. Thomas' makes bi-weekly Sunday visits to Her Majesty's Penitentiary to share worship, songs, prayers and fellowship with the inmates. Pastoral support is also provided for ex-offenders in the parish by a group of trained volunteers. Rev. John Paul Westin conducts weekly visits and Bible studies and the Rev. Peter Young holds a monthly service of Holy Communion. John Paul works together with an ecumenical Pastoral Care Committee at HMP to provide a comprehensive ministry to all inmates.
In June of 2008 members of St. Thomas' were involved in a Prison Fellowship Canada volunteers training workshop. Vivienne Nash, the director of in-prison services for PFC, led the training. Every Christmas the chaplaincy spear-heads Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Programme, which organizes local churches in purchasing and delivering gifts from inmates to their children at Christmastime.
Anyone interested in learning more about our Prison Ministry is invited to contact the Rector (jpwestin(at)st-thomaschurch.com).
- Spring, 2008- "Instigators" play at the penitentiary with Rev. John Paul as part of outreach ministry. (Fred Colbourne lead guitar, Herb Hopkins rhythm guitar, Phil Eustace bass guitar, Paul Bradbury drums and Carl Eustace lead vocals, piano and harmonica.)
Christmas Concert 2008 @ HMP
- Bishop Pitman joined "Foundation" and the parish Prison Ministry team to offer a wonderful Christmas concert and service at Her Majesty's Penitentiary on December 18.