The Prison Ministry is a project of the Thailand Jesuit Foundation. Its purpose is to assist prisoners who are held in different prisons within Thailand, especially for those who are poor and who have no visitors.
Klong Prem Central Prison, a high-security prison in Bangkok
The project was initiated by Fr.Olivier Morin, S.J., in October 1991, and despite great obstacles, the work has continued to the present day.
The Prison Ministry Team visits the prisoners and talks with them as we would with our friends, with our brothers or sisters.
We provide support for them in many forms. When possible (if allowed by the Correction Department or Prison officials), we can provide some basic needs, e.g. toiletries, clothes, supplementary food, medicine, etc.
During our regular visits we are able to become their friends, giving family-like support and encouraging them with hope. They and we together share our experiences of life.
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The Jesuit Prison Ministry is a team of 7 full-time staff members, all of whom are dedicated to the service of prisoners in Thailand.
On the "list" of those who have asked for our regular assistance, there are now about 1,900 men and women whom we visit regularly. They are inmates in 11 different prison facilities.
[above: Bang Kwang Central Prison, Bangkok]
Many people ask us how they can be involved in this ministry. They are several ways you can share this work with us. To be a part of our work means that you care for men and women who are in a life-situation where they have not only lost their freedom (sometimes justly, because of their crimes), but have also lost contact with family, friends, in fact, with anyone who cares.
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The Jesuit Foundation is the legal entity of the Society of Jesus in Thailand. The Foundation was registered with the Royal Thai Government in 1967. The Foundation’s objectives are “to promote moral and religious activities in many sectors: retreats for religious and lay people; work for students; social ministries; support for the poor; and care for prisoners, detainees, and refugees.” The “Jesuit Prison Ministry” is one of the main programs of the Jesuit Foundation. The Prison Ministry assists prisoners who are held in different prisons within the Kingdom of Thailand. This project was initiated by Fr. Olivier Morin, S.J., in October 1991. He started by visiting only one African man from Benin (who was French speaking) at the request of the French Embassy. Father Olivier then discovered the difficult life which foreign prisoners have -- no help from outside, no family, no friends, no one to visit them or to help them. From those humble beginnings (of a visit to one prisoner), the services have been extended and developed according to the needs that surfaced. At present there is a full-time team of seven laypeople who run this ministry (based at Xavier Hall, Bangkok). There are more than 1,800 prisoners whom we have accepted onto our list of regular care. (Many hundreds more ask to be put on our list, but we just cannot handle so much-yet!) In August, 2009, Father Olivier handed over the work of Director to Ms. Vilaiwan Phokthavi. Together with a strong and dedicated team of laypersons, she runs that day to day activities of the Project.
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