Jakarta Catholics learn to serve drug-abuse inmates

ABOUT 40 percent of prison inmates take drugs, an ex-prisoner told participants at a prison ministry workshop recently.

“Never try to speak against drug abuse when you serve prisoners; it will put you in a difficult situation,” said Iwan, a 26-year-old Muslim who was speaking to 40 lay Catholics, mostly prison ministers, during a recent workshop organized by the Jakarta archdiocese’s Prison Ministry Forum.

He said that support provided by the Community of Zion Hill, a Protestant group, helped him and other prisoners abusing drugs be more open about sharing their lives.

“I do not take drugs anymore because of the help I received from this group,” he said.

Another speaker, M.B. Heryana, told participants that the task of a prison minister is to strengthen, support and encourage prisoners who have lost their self-esteem.

“We are not counselors. We only need to help them regain their sense of self-worth,” she said.

Workshop participant, Frederika Salim, said she found the speakers’ sharings invaluable for her prison ministry.

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