REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS

  The Archdiocese of Miami's Office of Detention Ministry is deeply committed to pastoral care, fostering healing and rehabilitation within our communities by offering compassionate support to those impacted by incarceration. We provide comprehensive training and orientation for deacons, lay ministers, parish groups, and ecclesial movements, preparing them to deliver effective pastoral care within our Detention Ministry. Our programs equip volunteers to provide spiritual and emotional guidance to inmates and detainees in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, who are often isolated and in need of hope. At the heart of our mission is bridging the gap between the Church and correctional institutions, ensuring that incarcerated individuals receive the pastoral care necessary for personal and spiritual transformation, leading them toward healing and reconciliation. 

Below are the steps to become a Detention Ministry Volunteer:

FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS:

Step One:

1. Complete the Volunteer Personal Information Form (VPI) on the volunteering page (scroll down) to send by email to info@detentionministry.org

2. Obtain a Pastoral Reference Letter Form (PRL) from the same page (scroll down). Your pastor can send it by email to infor@detentionministry.org

3. Fingerprinting Procedures every five years; click the following link: https://www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Fingerprinting

 Fieldpring code screen:   FPAOMPastoralVol

4. Virtus Training: You may register for an upcoming Virtus training session at www.virtus.org by clicking on  FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT

in the green column to the left. Next, select the Archdiocese of Miami as your "organization" by scrolling down to the "M's" for Miami to find it. Follow the prompts to select the session you would like to attend. 

5. Register for the Annual 4-hour Comprehensive Prison Pastoral Care Program for all volunteers Bilingual. https://detentionministry.org/servicing

Step Two:

After completing step 1, the Office of the Ministry of Detention will provide you with a one-year ministerial endorsement letter. This letter signifies your availability to serve for one year. 

Step Three:

 Regular and occasional volunteers are required to participate in the correctional institution's training sessions and submit a ministerial endorsement letter issued by the Office of Detention Ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami to the correctional authorities. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR NEW AND ENDORSED VOLUNTEERS 

*The annual 4-hour Comprehensive Prison Pastoral Care Program for All Volunteers Bilingual is to maintain your ministerial endorsement. This essential annual training equips and refreshes you with the fundamental skills and knowledge for effective pastoral care in correctional and detention facilities and supports your continued growth in this vital ministry. To register, go to https://detentionministry.org/servicing. 

** The 2-hour Max Online Bilingual Quarterly Meetings for Detention Ministry Volunteers represent more than mere gatherings; they are crucial junctures where our corrections/detention pastoral teams unite to reflect, recalibrate, and rejuvenate our shared mission. These sessions provide a vital platform to exchange updates, tackle challenges, and celebrate our joint accomplishments across diverse correctional and detention jurisdictions. Let us continue propelling our mission forward, fueled by compassion and our collective commitment to justice and healing. To register, go to https://detentionministry.org/meeting