Hour Children Update
Hour Children’s pastoral outreach to women incarcerated at the Rose M. Singer Center of New York City’s Riker’s Island Correctional Facility continues with the support of the Black and Indian Mission Office. Twice a week, the team, led by Sister Catherine Sitja y Balbastro, IHM, provides spiritual, educational and community-building opportunities to the women imprisoned at “Rosie”. Conditions on Riker’s Island are hard. With little programming, a poor living environment and few supportive services, many women quickly lose hope and succumb to despair. By Hour Children’s regular presence at Riker’s Island, the staff provides friendship, education, advocacy and much-needed spiritual support to help women endure the difficulties of daily life there. Hour Children also brings Bibles, spiritual readings, rosary beads and other meaningful sacramentals to women to remind them that, regardless of their circumstances, God is with them and loves them.
