Restorative Justice

"I was in prison and you visited me . ...I tell you whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me!"— Matthew 25:36, 40

The mission of Restorative Justice Ministry is to provide a Catholic pastoral presence to the over 4,500 men, women and children incarcerated in the Diocese of San Jose in our county jails, juvenile facilities and prisons that reflects a sensitivity to the ethnic and cultural differences and needs of this special population.

Restorative Justice seeks also to provide a healing service to victims, families of victims, offenders, families of offenders and to all who are affected by the criminal justice system. 

The primary focus of Restorative is to communicate the GOOD NEWS of God's unconditional love for all.

Victim Support

Through the work of trained volunteers and facilitators, the Diocese of San Jose is now ready to invite amy persons who have lost a loved one through violence to become part of a forum where each one can share his/her story in order to move toward wholeness and healing.  If you would like to be part of such a group, please contact Sister Maryann Cantlon at (408) 983-0131.

Ministry to the Incarcerated

 We do not give up on those who have lost their way.  Most offenders will walk among us again, and despite their many public sins, our faith affirms that the Lord does not ever abandon anyone but calls us all to repentance.  The mission of Jesus, who was himself a prisoner, began with proclaiming "good news to the poor and release to captives" (Luke 4).  In light of this, the Diocese of San Jose has one hundred volunteers, both ordained and lay, who minister to the spiritual needs of the inmates in the Santa Clara County jails.

Restorative Justice Council