Prison Ministry is one of the Apostolate’s most important outreach initiatives. It spans federal, state, and juvenile detention centers across eight countries. The goal of our Prison Ministry outreach is to get the writings of the Apostolate to the incarcerated.
How It Began
In January of 2012, ARK Pam Robertson knew little to nothing about ministering to prisoners, so she began to do some research. She found that she could reach out to prison chaplains to ask if they would be interested in the written works for their inmates. Pam began mailing them to prison chaplains for distribution. She found that the Heaven Speaks to Prisoners booklet was the obvious place to start! This method of outreach was and continues to be the backbone of the Prison Ministry.
Adopt a Prisoner Program
After reading the Heaven Speaks to Prisoners booklet, inmates often write requesting more materials. In response to the sizable amount of mail and material requests, Pam started the ‘Adopt a Prisoner’ Heaven Speaks Program where each prisoner receives three booklets in the mail each month over the course of seven months. After they receive the last booklet, prisoners often reach out asking for even more resources. Pam then puts them on the ‘Adopt a Prisoner’ Volumes Program, where they are then sent the complete set of The Volumes over the course of many months.
The cost to sponsor one prisoner is $80.00. This covers the cost of postage, packaging, and the Heaven Speaks Booklets/Volumes. Please consider adopting a prisoner so we can get these writings into the hands of another person today!
All the work being done for this ministry is purely on a volunteer basis. Our entire budget goes directly towards providing these essential resources to prisoners. Only through God’s providence, your prayers, and your generous contributions is this ministry possible. Please consider Adopting a Prisoner or contributing to the printing of the calendar (our most requested item), the Heaven Speaks booklets, the Volumes, and the cost of postage. Any amount is appreciated.
Stapleless booklets
The Apostolate’s Prison Ministry needs your help. Stapleless booklets are required in juvenile detention centers in the United States. Over the years, we have sent 133,656 stapleless Heaven Speaks booklets to juvenile detention centers in the US. We are presently out of stapleless booklets. With God’s providence and your support, we hope to get these booklets printed and distributed to prisons.
“Another form of service is concern for the spiritual wellbeing of others. When one truly cares for the spiritual wellbeing of others, something that gives meaning and value to all suffering, one offers the same reassurance I extend to you now. People must know that their life is important to me, that I see them in their condition, and that I will reward them with eternal wellness upon the natural completion of their time” (God the Father, April 2, 2025).
Help us print stapleless booklets for the incarcerated youth.
Annual Calendar Drive
Calendars are one of the most requested items from prisoners. Through this Rescue Mission we welcome the incarcerated to the love, assistance, and forgiveness of Jesus. We are able to provide a little thread of communication and connectedness with Heaven. Our hope is to provide calendars free of charge to the incarcerated, in the faith that Jesus will comfort these adolescents and adults and one day use them in his ministry.
The annual calendar is designed around the saints feast days, with a beautiful image of each saint along with a specially chosen message excerpted from the writings for each month. Click here to view past calendars.
Each year, the proceeds from the Apostolate calendar help support our outreach to those who are incarcerated. We print and mail thousands of calendars to over 100 prisons around the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. This is primarily the work of one ARK, Pam, who heard the call to bring the writings of the Apostolate into prisons. Nearly a decade later, she is still spearheading this ministry and the Calendar Drive continues to grow each year!
For the past few years, we have been offering the option to purchase a calendar for prisoners, along with your own. When calendars become available on our online bookstore (beginning every autumn), consider selecting the “Buy One, Give One” option and we will ship you your calendar and mail another calendar to a prisoner who has requested one. Stock is limited each year so be sure to order as soon as they become available.
Another need we have is to cover the cost of shipping cases of calendars to prisons. Each year we detail the shipping cost per box, giving those who wish the opportunity to contribute in this practical way also.
In our own daily lives, displaying these messages in our home or office is a nice reminder that Heaven wants to be united with us in our days and in the work we are doing. The calendar is a perfect way to stay connected to the Apostolate and follow the key liturgical days throughout the year. It is also a great gift and a gentle way to introduce others to the Apostolate.
Each year we receive hundreds of requests for calendars from prisoners as well as prison chaplains. With your help, we hope to send a calendar to every prisoner who asks!
“It is all about heavenly service, so you must assume that Jesus needs you to serve exactly where you are” (HS Prisoners, St. Francis of Assisi, July 25, 2005).
A Note from Pam
“I’m not doing this alone. My ARK Prayer Group and my husband Mark have all counted booklets, packed boxes, lugged 33-pound cases to the post office, and made calls to prison chaplains.
And the prisoners themselves evangelize within the walls of their prisons to each other sharing their writings with fellow prisoners and by starting (ARK) Prayer Groups. One prisoner said the booklets were like baseball trading cards. They also send us letters asking for the writings to be sent to their family members on the outside.
When I was feeling overwhelmed and worried about how we would cover costs Father Darragh was there with these inspirational words, ‘You know Pam when you get to Heaven, you and all the prisoners you have helped will know each other.’
To all who have prayed, donated, or will pray for and donate to Prison Ministry, in Heaven, you too will be known by, and will know the prisoners you have helped.
Prison Ministry is important. Make no mistake, it takes an Apostolate!”
Get in touch:
contactus@directionforourtimes.org
+1 708 496 9300 / +353 49 437 3040