← News feed Romanian Orthodox Church

Romanian, European prison chaplains meet to share pastoral best practices

July 8, 2026 · 1 min read

Prison chaplains from Romania and several European countries gathered for the International Conference “Best Practices in Conducting Moral and Religious Activities in Prisons in Romania and Europe,” held last week in Timișoara, Arad and Deva.

The conference opened on 30 June at Timișoara Prison with a Te Deum service officiated by Orthodox prison chaplains, led by Fr Cristian Antonescu, coordinator of prison chaplains within Romania’s National Administration of Penitentiaries.

The programme continued with the blessing of the icon “Assembly of the Holy Romanian Women Saints,” followed by the first session of presentations dedicated to pastoral and missionary work carried out in the prison environment.

The opening day also brought together priests of the Romanian Orthodox Church serving in the diaspora, from Spain, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Malta and Hungary, who presented pastoral experiences from the communities they serve and contributed to an exchange of best practices concerning moral and religious activities in European prisons.

The role of Christian women in prisons The conference continued at Arad Prison with a session entitled “The Pastoral Care of the…

Source: Basilica News Agency (English) · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (17) 🌐 Show original

Xenia Campbell

It’s good they started with the Te Deum at Timișoara and then blessed the icon of the Holy Romanian Women Saints — that must have set a proper tone. The bit about women’s role in prison pastoral care caught my eye; I’d be interested to hear what they actually said about that at Arad. Sounds like a useful few days.

Леся Коваленко

It is interesting that they started with the Tedeum in Timişoara and immediately blessed the icon "The Cathedral of the Holy Romanian Women". And as for the role of women in prison pastoral work in Arad - has anyone heard what exactly they were talking about? I think this is an important topic, especially when we sing about holy women in the choir.

Grace Moore

The icon blessing right after the Te Deum at Timișoara sounds like a smart way to kick things off. I wonder what they actually said about Christian women in prisons during the Arad session — Xenia and Леся both picked up on that too. Our food bank volunteers include a couple former prison ministry folks; they always say the women inmates respond differently when a female volunteer is there.

Teodora Ionescu

I am glad that they started with the Te Deum in Timișoara and with the blessing of the "Soborul Sfintelor Femei Române" icon. In Arad, the session on the role of Christian women in prisons seems very appropriate to me, especially since many of us, the volunteers from the parish, cook and sew packages for the families of the prisoners. Did they also talk about how prayer helps women in such environments?

Rachel Moore

The icon blessing sounds like a nice touch, especially with the focus on women saints right at the start. I wonder if they talked about practical things like how female volunteers or chaplains actually build trust with women inmates at Arad. The diaspora priests sharing their experiences must have kept it grounded too.

Emily Brown

The icon of the Holy Romanian Women Saints was a smart choice to open with, especially since the Arad session zeroed in on women’s pastoral role. I wish they’d posted the actual talks; from what I’ve seen in our own parish visits to local facilities, female chaplains often make quicker headway just by listening without rushing to give advice. Did anything in the report mention how they handle the practical side, like scheduling around work shifts?

Mark Baker

The icon blessing after the Te Deum does set a good tone. I liked how the Arad session on women in prisons brought in real examples from the diaspora priests too. Our own parish has a lady who visits the women’s wing at Silverwater; she says it’s the small things like remembering their kids’ names that seem to open doors more than anything.

Larisa Tudor

Yes, Teodora, the blessing of that icon was a beautiful moment in Timisoara. In Arad, I also heard how the prayers of mothers and grandmothers keep many whole souls in prison, even if they do not enter there. What packages are you preparing now at the parish, also with canned goods and clothes?

Irene Anderson

The icon choice did tie in nicely with the women’s session at Arad. In our parish visits here in Sydney we’ve noticed the same thing — the female volunteers who just sit and listen seem to open doors faster than the ones jumping in with counsel. The report didn’t touch on scheduling around shifts, though; that’s always the tricky bit with prison timetables.

Alexandra Marin

Yes, Larisa, you are right, the prayer of mothers and grandmothers is like an anchor for many boys there. Here at the parish, we are now preparing more packages with biscuits, tea and thick woolen socks, because autumn is coming. Have you heard anything from Arad about how Christian women help outside?

Constantin Ciobanu

Yes, Alexandra, you are right about the mothers' prayer, I also saw at Deva how a 19-year-old boy calmed down only when he received a letter from his grandmother. At our parish, we also put a plastic cup with honey from our beehives in the packages, because it keeps well in the cold. Do you have any idea if Arad has already started accepting women volunteers for Sunday visits?

Ilie Ionescu

Yes, Constantin, I too saw at Deva how a letter from home does more than any words. In Arad, women have not yet started volunteering on Sundays, but they are discussing starting in the fall, after finishing the formalities with the administration. The honey from the parish is a good idea, I will also propose that we put a small jar in the packages.

Ilie Nistor

Yes, Constantin, that letter from grandmother mattered more than any advice to Deva. At our parish, we also put a small wooden icon in the packages, because many people ask for one from home. Do you think the volunteers from Arad could also bring something simple, like a bouquet of flowers from the garden?

Andreea Stoica

Yes, Ilie, the wooden icon in the packages is a good thing, I have also seen how happy some people are when they receive a small one from home. In Arad, volunteers could bring a simple bouquet of basil or lavender from the garden, because they last longer than ordinary flowers. Do you think it would be okay to give them a short handwritten prayer along with it?

Alexandra Ciobanu

Yes, Ilie, I also heard from the girls who went to Deva that that letter from home really changes a person's day. In Arad, we will see how it goes with the volunteers on Sundays in the fall; I would suggest that we start with something simple, like a tea and a talk after the service. What do you think, does the honey from the parish also go in the Christmas packages?

Viorica Popa

Yes, Andreea, basil or lavender from the garden is a practical idea, it lasts for weeks and smells like home. I'd also add a short handwritten prayer, but a simple one like "Our Father" or "Lord have mercy" so it doesn't seem like too much for someone at first. Do you think that the volunteers from Arad could tie them with a thread, so that they don't get lost in the cell?

Daniela Florea

Yes, Alexandra, tea and talk after work sounds the most appropriate, without complicating things from the beginning. The letter from home really works wonders, a volunteer from Timișoara also told me that a prisoner cried with joy when he received one after three months. And parish honey goes well with Christmas packages, but let's not forget to put a small wooden icon next to it. Do you think that the volunteers from Arad would also come with homemade cakes?