Tom O'Connor

The man who leads religious services in Oregon’s prison system was honored this week for his ecumenical reach.

Tom O’Connor, who holds a doctorate from Catholic University of America on the interplay between religion and culture in the U.S. penal system, was named Ecumenist of the Year at the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon annual dinner. The award cites O’Connor for “leadership and commitment to fostering the love of Christ through ecumenical dialogue, witness and ministry.”

O’Connor and a team of 30 chaplains, program staff and more than 1,400 volunteers work with the 13,300 prisoners. The ecumenical team works side-by-side to help those who wish to awaken, deepen and practice faith as they serve time.

O’Connor says that his job gives him “a chance to work intimately with people from a wide variety of traditions.” That includes Muslims, Jewish, Protestants, Mormons, Buddhists, Hindus and Native Americans, as well as agnostics and atheists.

“I find it very rewarding to be part of a state agency and a community that supports people as they grow in each of these traditions and in their individual spiritualities or understandings of life,” he explains.

O’Connor has helped create a network across the state that allows people released from prison to tap into community and faith-based support. These inmates — about 8,000 per year — are better able to integrate because of their spirituality and support system. The end result is safer streets for everyone.

Born in Dublin, O’Connor completed legal studies before becoming a Carmelite friar for nine years. Since 1987, he has worked on religious, treatment, training, and evaluation issues in the social service and criminal justice systems.

O’Connor has degrees in law, philosophy, theology and counseling. He completed his clinical pastoral education training at a hospital in Maryland and was certified as a chaplain by the National Catholic Chaplains Association. He has published articles on the role of religion in corrections.

The Ecumenical Ministries event begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Carla Starrett-Bigg at (503) 221-1054.