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Pound of Love, as the ministry is called, was the idea of Presvytera Despina Nicoloudakis of Reading, PA. She and her husband, Fr. Demetrius, have long been active in prison ministry through OCPM. For several years Presvytera met with women one-on-one in a local prison (where OCPM Executive Director Patrick Tutella served as lead chaplain). The visits came to an end, though, when Presvytera gave birth to her fifth child. And yet she missed the women.

“I was ministering to them, but they didn’t realize how much they ministered to me,” she says. So she asked herself, “What can I do to show them how much I care for them?”

She came up with pound cakes. After all, who doesn’t love pound cake?

From the beginning she knew she would need help. The Nicoloudakis’ parish, St Matthew Greek Orthodox Church, was supportive, but it’s a small parish of only 20 households, and the church has no ovens. So she placed a small free ad in the local newspaper. And she mentioned the idea to her neighbor, a parishioner at a Catholic church. Presvytera was delighted with the outcome: 68 cakes collected and distributed that first year.

That was in 2009. Each year since the ministry has grown and more groups have gotten involved.

This year, community participation reached a new high. This past Sunday, Western calendar Easter, more than 1,500 cakes—1,524 to be exact—were distributed. For the first time, there were enough cakes for every woman and man in the prison. Presvytera had to make two trips with the family minivan to transport them all. When she arrived at the prison, the officer announced, “The cake lady is here!”

There were enough cakes for a local food bank too, and family and teen crisis centers.

Two Orthodox parishes, a host of Christian denominations—including Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, and Quaker—plus the Islamic Center, Jewish Community Center, and local businesses all baked pound cakes. The Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter at Temple University, where the Nicoloudakis’ daughter is a student, baked seven loaves.

Presvytera knows that for people who’ve been in prison, re-entering society is difficult. She hopes that the women and men in prison who receive the pound cakes will be heartened, knowing that there are people in the community who care. That when they are released, it will give them courage.  “I can feel my own sense of redemption and hope and God’s love, and I pray they feel it,” she says.

She hopes too that the baking of the cakes will have a ripple effect. As it brings community members together in an act of love, she hopes there will ultimately be less crime, less homelessness, and fewer people in prison in Reading.

Commenting on the ecumenical spirit of the ministry, Presvytera Despina has been moved “to see how Christ has brought us all together.”

“God’s hand was in this all,” she says. “The vision came from the Lord and we cooperated with it.“

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“Clergy are absolutely vital to OCPM’s work,” said Chaplain Patrick Tutella, OCPM Executive Director. “We receive letters from people in prison every day, many of whom are Orthodox and seeking repentance. They turn to OCPM for help in finding local Orthodox clergy. We also hear from many people in prison who want to learn about the Orthodox faith. More trained clergy means more imprisoned people can be ministered to, and the Orthodox who are serving time can participate in the sacramental life of the Church.”

OCPM hopes the trainings will lay a foundation for increased pastoral care and inspire new prison ministry teams of clergy and lay volunteers.

First Clergy Training Held in Houston

The first clergy training was held in Houston, Texas in February at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Clergy from four area parishes braved a tornado warning to attend the training, which was led by Tutella, OCPM Assistant Director Fr. Stephen Powley, and OCPM board member Fr. John Kowalczyk.

“The clergy training opened our eyes to a ministry that is often neglected,” said Fr. Daniel Payne, Associate Priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. “We heard stories of transformation where the most hardened inmates had become Orthodox Christians, completely devoted to Christ. The Lord calls all of us to this sacred ministry of love. By visiting those who are in prison, we are actually visiting Christ.”

There are 26 correctional facilities in the Houston area where Orthodox Christians and those who would like to become Orthodox are incarcerated.  “The presentations helped us to see the reality in which these men and women live and how to minister to them and their families while they are in prison and when they are released,” said Father Payne.

While in Houston, OCPM staff and board members met with dozens of clergy and laity from Orthodox parishes to discuss OCPM’s work. Interested volunteers signed up to join Houston’s prison ministry team, which now has more than 20 members.

Although only recently formed, the Houston team has already begun the process of contacting the chaplains of the 26 correctional facilities, training volunteers who will have contact with people in prison, and setting up support networks for people in prison and their families. “God is working in Houston and across the nation to transform the hearts and minds of people who are in need of forgiveness and love,” said Fr Payne.

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Click picture to enlarge.

Pictured: Seated at the table, His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos and Shaun Daugherty, spiritual son of Fr. Duane Pederson. Standing left to right is OCPM Executive Director Chaplain Patrick Tutella , Fr. John Kowalczyk OCPM Secretary, OCPM Assistant Director Fr. Stephen Powley presenting the award to Fr. Duane Pederson, Assembly of Bishops Hierarchal Overseer His Grace Bishop Mark of Baltimore and the South (OCA), Fr Emmanuel Mantzouris OCPM Board Member,  Mr. Kory Warr Chairman of OCPM Board Trustees.

The post Fr. Duane Pederson Receives the Matthew 25:36 Award appeared first on Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry.

Blessed Feast day to each of my sons, brother priests, and beloved Faithful who have taken the name Silas.

Greetings on this most special day for those of us who pray for and serve people in prison, as well as their families and loved ones. Not forgetting, those who by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ have been released from prison. with special concern for the hungry and homeless, many of whom once were in prison.

Please join together in unity remembering all people and their loved ones, those released from prison, along with all of the Faithfull who volunteer in prison ministry and related ministries.

O Holy Apostle Silas, intercede with our merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of sins. Amen

Father Duane

OCPM Founder Emeritus

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