The vision for St. Luke’s is centered in the prisoner being welcomed to a place away from the noise and negativity of institutional life. It offers an opportunity to quiet down, and to come to a certain stillness. In a surrounding conducive to reflection and meditation, participants may discover a deeper realization of being part of the Great Mystery and experience that this Great Mystery is also within. At St. Luke’s the focus is on spiritual renewal.

This focus is in accord with the core values of the Mission Statement of the Correctional Service of Canada which emphasizes "the dignity of individuals, the rights of all members of society and the potential for human growth and development" (Core Value 1), and that "human relationships are the cornerstone of our endeavour".

It may be surprising to many people that there are over 3500 long-term prisoners in Canadian prisons.  Some of these prisoners attend spiritual gatherings and take advantage of personal counselling from prison chaplains and other religious leaders from the community.  Many respond to this ministry and a significant number begin a journey of faith.  St. Luke's Renewal Centre seeks to provide an opportunity away from the noise and pressure of crowded living conditions where they can find quietness for continued spiritual growth.

BUILDING

Like most homes in the maritimes, life revolves around the kitchen.  Folk are welcomed through the kitchen door and greeted with the presence of a large welcoming table.  The kitchen provides opportunity for participants to share in the cooking and clean-up of meals and thereby feel a part of the community. 

From the kitchen one moves into the Great Room.  Complete with a gas fireplace, the Great Room is a comfortable place for discussions, program presentations, relaxing and reflecting and being together in community.

The centre has six bedrooms and can accommodate up to five inmates for overnight programs. A wheel-chair accessible washroom and ramp make the center completely barrier free.  Each bedroom is furnished with a comfortable bed, comforter and linens and a desk and desk lamp.  When taking part in over-night programs this private space is important to participants.

The most popular room in the centre is the meditation room - an all glass room looking out over the hills of Cumberland County.  The room is furnished with a very comfortable easy-chair - position in just the correct manner one can sit in the chair and gaze over the fence at the surrounding hills and find freedom for their spirit to imagine a new way of being-in-the-world.

PROGRAMS
Activities at the Centre take place at various times.  Some are held over a weekend or during a three- or four-day period during the week. The Centre offers inmates a setting where there is quietness and an opportunity for reflection and meaningful conversations with the Facilitator and resource persons.  There are also opportunities for reading and for watching resource materials - and even cooking a meal.  This "time away" is especially meaningful for long-term prisoners as it allows them an opportunity to remove themselves from the routine of the Institution for brief periods of time. In effect, it encourages the participant not only to step outside of the prison environment, but also to step outside of himself, that is, outside of the "survival mask" which he has developed.

Programs are planned with the assistance of a Program Committee.  While most inmates sign up for programs on their own - some are referred to the Centre by Case Management Teams and  Institutional Chaplains.  

To date the Centre with the assistance of many volunteers has offered programs such as Addiction and Spirituality, Art: Painting and Me A Spiritual Journey (12 weeks), My Story in the Scriptures Restorative Justice Living in a Family after Prison, Faith at Work, Houses of Healing, and so on.  New programs and events are constantly being developed.  See below for a typical program schedule based on a recent program called: "Facing Loneliness and Disorientation".

COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS
“I have always had faith in God but until recently had never had to try to articulate or express what real faith is to others. I have learned how to do that, but feel I still need to explore both faith and the expression of it much more.”
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“It’s a good thing, that I don’t think anyone could ever get enough of. It’s a chance to talk, heal pain, and think clearly, away from the negativity and noise in the Units.”
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“Each time I visit St. Luke’s, it affords me the opportunity to go still deeper into myself.”