Providing for Pagans in Prisons
Hematite Inmate Ministries--Hematite is a stone said to bring justice in a court of law--is a collaborative effort of those who currently volunteer, as well as those who desire to serve, with Pagans in prisons. Our mission is to provide mutual support and education, and to share resources, lessons, ritual ideas (very different from those we have for unincarcerated people), rules, and regulations, of different jurisdictions – states, federal, and other. The Ministry is open to all Pagans of any persuasion, including formerly incarcerated Pagans. Hematite Inmate Ministries is a M. Macha NightMare Legacy
Mission Statement
It is the mission of Hematite Inmate Ministries’ to:
Seek to fulfill requests from inmates, inmate groups, and/or prison chaplains for Pagan volunteers
Support Pagan inmates with information, resources, and volunteers
Support Pagan volunteers and prison chaplains in working with inmates with religious observances and teachings
Compile and share resources, including teaching and regulations of different jurisdictions and institutions,
Network with others in the field and share best practices
Develop and distribute materials toward quality contemporary Pagan practices inside prisons
Assist those who wish to establish Pagan inmate ministries
Vision Statement
Hematite Inmate Ministries envisions a world in which every inmate has access to quality resources for developing their Neopagan religious practices, both for themselves and for their return to our communities. Hematite fosters volunteers to become knowledgeable about working in prisons and to provide support and resources for doing so.
Meet the Team
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M. Macha NightMare (Aline O’Brien, M.Div.)
M. Macha NightMare (Aline O’Brien, M.Div.) is an interfaith, social justice, and climate activist, and an internationally published author who has contributed to anthologies, encyclopedia, textbooks, and periodicals. Much of her work in recent years has been in the liminal realm between the magic and the mundane. A co-Founder of Hematite Inmate Ministries, Macha currently serves the inmates of the Wiccan circle at San Quentin State Prison.
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Rory Bowman
Rory Bowman has been a practicing Neopagan since the mid 1980’s, working across different decades in Wiccanate, druidic and heathen traditions. A prison volunteer since 2014, he also served as coordinator for The Troth’s Prison Inreach program and is presently a religious-activities contractor for the Washington state Department of Corrections, supporting incarcerated Pagans and their chaplains.
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Lady CrowMoon
Lady CrowMoon is the founder of Crow Gleann Prison Ministries and has worked with incarcerated Pagans since 2011. She is a Celtic Wiccan who started volunteering with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and eventually expanded to send sabbat newsletters and Pagan materials to over thirty states and to over one hundred chaplains.
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Rev. Kirk Thomas
Rev. Kirk Thomas is Archdruid Emeritus of Ár nDraíocht Féin : A Druid Fellowship, and has been a prison volunteer since 2009. He currently heads ADF’s prison outreach program called ADF Chaplaincy Support Services.
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Rev.Donna Donovan
Rev. Donna Donovan is the founder of Appalachian Pagan Ministry whose focus is on pagan prison ministry, reentry, and substance abuse recovery. Rev Donna is a member of the Athens County Reentry Task Force, Athens HOPE, Ohio’s Reentry Coalition, various West Virginia Reentry Coalitions, as well as several National Reentry Coalitions. Once formerly incarcerated herself then 10 years later working for the state that incarcerated her, along with being a person in long-term recovery, Rev. Donna brings an inside perspective to the table. She has spent the past decade plus working with individuals who are currently incarcerated, returning from incarceration, and/or in various stages in their substance abuse recovery journey.
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Aerik and Selene
Aerik and Selene lead a Gardnerian coven and hold ministerial credentials from Covenant of the Goddess. They volunteer at a state correctional facility to bring Wiccan services to inmates.
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Carol Garr
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Jane Skau