Convention One

THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF PRISON MINISTRY INDIA was conducted at Christian Workers’ Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka from 13th to 15th of August, 1994. The convention was inaugurated by Mr. Alphonse Kannanthanam IAS , the commissioner DDA and presided over by Very Fr. Alex Ukkarn CMI , the national Secretary of Catholic religious of India.The first national meeting of volunteers of Prison Ministry India from 8 states of India gathered and resolved to establish a regular national organization for this special ministry with dedicated qualified workers among the inmates of prisons. With this end in view, an adhoc executive committee comprising 8 members whose names are given below 

• Kerala Fr. Varghese Karipery
• Uttar Pradesh Fr. Maurice D’sa
• Tamil Nadu Mr. Irudaya Raj
• Gujarat Sr. Clara Dsp
• Pondicherry Sr. Pauline
• Maharashtra Sr. Gregoria
• Karnataka Fr. Menachery
• Andhra Pradesh Fr. Peter

This first national meeting placed before the CBCI the proposal of establishing a broad – based and regular national ministry for this most necessary apostolate with units in all the dioceses of the country. His grace Archbishop of Arokiasamy, Archbishop of Madurai was the patron of Prison Ministry India since it was under the Justice Peace Development commission.

The blessing , support and guidance of the Indian Hierarchy is requested through the CBCI for this purpose, for which this resolution of this first national meeting of volunteers for prison apostolate is being submitted to the CBCI through the chairman of KCBC commission for Justice, Peace and development. Fr. Varghese Karippery, the national Coordinator was the man behind the first national convention.