Published Saturday, September 7, 2002
Patricia Mulligan, a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, recently conducted a national workshop on prison ministry at the 16th Quinquennial Congress of the Secular Franciscan order at Loyola University in New Orleans.
Mrs. Mulligan is the minister of the local Franciscan Third Order Fraternity that meets in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Sharon, and is Peace and Justice, Respect Life commissioner for the Lady of Poverty Region. She has been involved in spiritual retreats at 12 prisons for men, women and teen-age inmates.
Mrs. Mulligan conducts Catholic Bible study and is an instructor in the "Faith-Based Life-Skills Program" for Christian inmates at the State Regional Correctional Facility south of Mercer in Findley Township.
The member of St. Joseph Church, Sharon, received the 1999 Erie Diocesan Catholic Charities Caritas Award.
The week-long congress, which convenes every five years, had the theme of "Transformation, Apostleship and Unity." More than 600 Franciscans attended from across the United States. There also were international representatives.