The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer will receive the Medal of Social Merit in Penitentiary Services in Valencia in recognition of its exceptional work supporting social reintegration through Casa Scala, a reception facility for third-degree semi-liberty inmates.
“Third degree” is the term used in our penitentiary legislation to describe a situation of semi-liberty: the inmate must go to a correctional facility, usually a Social Integration Center (CIS), to spend the night. In Valencia, the Picassent correctional facility is located 25 km from the city, has poor public transportation, and is difficult to access for inmates. This somewhat hinders their reintegration processes. With the aim of facilitating these processes, Hogar Scala was founded 14 years ago.
Hogar Scala, a shelter for third-degree inmates, opened its doors in 2012. After 14 years of operation, it continues its mission as a solidarity project in which the Valencia Prison Ministry and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer collaborate, with the support of the parish council of the Parish of the Purísima Concepción and San Miguel de la Punta. The Casa Abadía of the Parish of the Purísima Concepción and San Miguel de la Punta welcome up to ten brothers and sisters in third-degree inmates every night, Monday through Friday, facilitating and accompanying their reintegration process.
We believe that, for the reintegration process to occur, it is necessary to address two fundamental aspects of these individuals’ lives: the first is their integration into the labor market; to this end, the prison ministry relies on the POP (Prison Orientation Point), which offers courses to facilitate this integration. The second is the restoration of family relationships: to achieve true reintegration, we all need networks of relationships that support us through difficult times, and this is precisely where the personal support work that the Redemptorist community of Valencia provides with these individuals comes in.
From Monday to Friday, a member of the Redemptorist community visits the home to welcome these brothers detained in third-class prison. On Monday, a meeting is held where they share their week’s progress and their plans for the coming week. On Thursday, the house is cleaned, and when the long-awaited day of full release arrives for some of them, a farewell dinner is held to boost the morale and hope of those who still have a few months of their sentences to serve.
We wish to thank God and the many Redemptorist missionaries who have supported this shelter. This award is a recognition of their service, offering a listening ear to so many brothers and sisters seeking a second chance. May the Lord strengthen us in our mission, in fidelity to the Gospel and the Redemptorist charism, to continue offering this space of accompaniment to our most abandoned brothers and sisters.
Álvaro Ortiz Jiménez de Cisneros C.Ss.R.
