"[f]or I was in prison and you visited me" (Matthew 25:37).

Though countless Catholics are familiar with these words from Matthew, two men from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois have taken it to heart. They were among the seven people from throughout the state who were recently honored for completing an intensive 15-month prison ministry leadership program that was co-sponsored by the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Lewis University in Romeoville.

Philip HuberPhilip Louis Huber of St. Louis Parish in Nokomis and Terry Tuttle of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield participated in workshops and online classes from August 2013 through October 2014 to attain a theological and pastoral perspective toward prison ministry. They were among those who gathered at Sancta Alberta Chapel on the Lewis campus in November when Father Chris Reuter, OFM, celebrated the commissioning Mass.

Father Dan Willenborg, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Nokomis and the diocesan liaison for Prison Ministry, was also at the Mass and feels strongly that more people need to reach out to those who are incarcerated. "There are dedicated priests, deacons and volunteers reaching out each week to those who often feel the most abandoned and unwanted," he says. "Their outreach lets the inmates know that Holy Mother Church has not forgotten them and wants to bring them hope and renewal through the faith."

Sometimes, however, the average person in the pew knows nothing about prison ministry. "Through the efforts of Phil Huber and Terry Tuttle, we hope to help change that," Father Willenborg says. "They have just completed coursework in prison ministry through Lewis University that will help them in reaching out to inform our parishioners and promote prison ministry in our diocese."

Terry TuttleFather Willenborg explains that the two men will work with those who are already volunteering and those who will eventually decide to volunteer. "First, they will be working to establish a network among those currently serving in the prisons. This is to help share resources and information to help benefit and add to what they are currently doing," he says.

"Secondly, Terry and Phil will then be reaching out to our pastors and parishes to promote the ministry and seek future volunteers. They will then help those who volunteer to navigate the volunteer application process for the state and federal facilities within our diocese," says Father Willenborg, who is also chaplain for the Taylorville Correctional Center, Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, and Vandalia Correctional Center.

Tuttle says he is committed to visiting with the prisoners and believes one trait is essential to prison ministry. "The kind of person who should go into prison ministry is the type of person who can be honest. None of us know everything, particularly when it comes to God or the Catholic Church. Honesty is not just the words that we say but the deeds that we do," he says.

"Prison ministry needs people who show up when they say they are going to be there. The men look forward to the time we are going to be there with them. You do not always have to be there, just be there when you say you are going to be there."

Prison ministry isn't limited to visits, Tuttle says. "Even though a person cannot physically or emotionally enter a prison due to any reason, there are still many ways a person can serve those who are incarcerated. We need people to pray, to help out with administrative needs such as tracking down baptism authentication, letter writing, making or procuring supplies … ."

"I am very grateful for these two dedicated volunteers for their willingness to help coordinate and promote this corporal work of mercy to those who are often, spiritually, the 'poorest of the poor,'" Father Willenborg says. "It is my hope that people of our parishes will be open to their outreach and to this ministry."

Besides Huber and Tuttle, others who were commissioned to lead prison ministry were J. Edgardo De La Rosa, Assumption BVM, Chicago, Archdiocese of Chicago; Deacon John C. Fridley, Ph.D., St. George, New Baden, Diocese of Belleville; Deacon Joseph P. McDonnell, St. Ann, Channahon, Diocese of Joliet; Laura Rios Ortiz, St. Rita, Rockford, Diocese of Rockford; and Louis F. Slapshak, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Belleville, Diocese of Belleville.

To learn more about prison ministry, contact Terry Tuttle at .