WHAT: Parishioners from the Dioceses of Orange, San Bernardino and San
Gabriel will join in worship with women serving sentences at the
California Institution For Women. The gathering will celebrate
the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, December 12, 2009.
Hosted by Bishop Zavala and Chaplain Maryloyola Yetkey, this
special mass and reception invites those on the "outside" to cross
over to join women "inside" in prayer, conversation and
celebration.
This shared faith experience is being coordinated by Cross Over, a
program that mobilizes the Catholic community to advocate for human
rights within the prison system and to build positive relationships
between women on the inside and those on the outside. Cross Over
is a program of the Center For Restorative Justice Works, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women,
children, families and communities separated by crime and the
criminal justice system.
WHY: With over 1.3 million women in the jail, prison, probation or
parole system, many families understand the shame, stigma and
separation of having a sister, daughter, mother or friend in
prison. Nationally, more than 65% of women in state prisons report
being parents of children under 18, and 62% are sentenced to
prisons more than 100 miles from their families. Over 70% of women
in prison were sentenced for non-violent offences, 73% have a
clinical diagnosis of mental illness, and up to 80% of female
prisoners report histories of sexual abuse. Catholics are called
by the Gospels to respond to those in prison. The Center For
Restorative Justice Works believes that the community has been
divided by a retributive system of justice that destroys
relationships, disregards children of incarcerated parents, and
does not promote reconciliation or hope for positive outcomes upon
release. Cross Over advocates for systemic change by mobilizing the
Catholic community to enter into conversation with those on the
"inside" and transform their awareness about our system of justice.
WHEN: Saturday, December 12, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: California Institution For Women, 16756 Chino-Corona Road,
Corona, CA 92878
THE MEDIA IS INVITED TO COVER
Representatives of the media must receive clearance from the prison prior
to the visit. For prison clearance, contact:
PIO: Robert Patterson or Kyrie Owens
robert.patterson@cdcr.ca.gov or kyri.ownes@cdcr.ca.gov
909 606.4921 phone
909 393.8061 fax
Contact Information: Contact: Jan Urban Director Phone: 714 423.5802 Sister Suzanne Jabro 818 980.7714 x 13