Responding to the Trauma in Our Lives

March 23, 2021

Responding to the Trauma in Our Lives
Catholic Restorative Justice Ministries During Fires and Quarantines

During this season of Lent, we confront the fact that our savior, Jesus Christ, was a victim of violence and trauma. We recognize that violence and trauma existed before Jesus’ birth and continued after his death and resurrection, even to this day. Since trauma takes many forms, many of us can also recognize that we, too, have been harmed by trauma – the traumas of crime, the traumas of natural disaster, or even the traumas of everyday life: sickness, accident, injury, the death or sickness of loved ones, the ends of relationships and many others. What can we do in the face of trauma and violence? I believe that Scripture provides some possible responses. Additionally, advances in our understanding of trauma over the last twenty years provide some specific actions that may be taken to respond to trauma.
In the Diocese of Santa Rosa, the Office of Catholic Restorative Justice Ministries has the mission of responding to the needs of all people within the diocese who have been harmed by crime. Initially formed over 15 years ago as the Office of Detention Ministries with the mission of assisting those persons who were in any form of criminal confinement within the diocese, the mission has expanded to serve the families of the imprisoned, the survivors and victims of crime and their families, and the law enforcement and correctional officers who are harmed by crime. The name of the office has change from Detention Ministries to Catholic Restorative Justice Ministries (CRJM) to reflect a new model for responding to crime which shifts from an emphasis on retribution to a stress on the need for accountability, healing, and restoration.
In normal times, volunteers from CRJM provide direct ministry to the imprisoned, help families keep in contact with loved ones who are in custody and facilitate the visits of children to their imprisoned parents, act as volunteer law enforcement chaplains, and provide limited services to the survivors and victims of crime on an on-call basis.
During the quarantine, most services have been severely curtailed. We do continue to support the Chaplains at Pelican Bay State Prison and Napa State Hospital with material resources when possible – things like Bibles, prayer books, rosaries and liturgical equipment. We also have been providing a weekly packet of lectionary-based articles to persons detained at Sonoma County adult detention facilities. Finally, we have participated in many Zoom meetings networking with our ministry allies, Zoom trainings and conferences for volunteers and Zoom retreats and prayer sessions for KAIROS volunteers. In October 2021, Deacon John facilitated a panel at the Catholic Mobilizing Network’s national Zoom conference: “Harm, Healing and Human Dignity: An All-virtual Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice”.
We are excited about three specific developments during the quarantine. First, we have coordinated with the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility to offer a new trauma-informed re-entry program for men and women in that facility. We will be recruiting people who are willing to attend facilitator training, who are able to pass the facility security clearance process, and who are willing to contribute about six hours each week for at least two years.
Second, Deacon John has participated as an advisor to the California Conference of Bishops Committee on Restorative Justice which is in the process of issuing a Parish Guide to Traumatic Bereavement. This guide is intended to provide resources of immediate use to parishes responding to the needs of persons who have lost a loved one specifically due to homicide or suicide.
Third, the California Catholic Conference has also developed a Catholic Restorative Justice Network and is offering a series of Webinars for people interested in ministering to persons impacted by the trauma of crime. Though the series began in February, there’s still time to register to attend. One may register at www.restorejustice.com .
If you would like to participate in our programs or would like more information, contact Deacon John at [email protected].
If you would like to support our work, we are funded largely through the diocesan Annual Ministries Appeal. We appreciate your generosity!