Mangaluru: Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangaluru, inaugurated a four-month online Diploma Certificate Programme in Counselling and Psychology designed for volunteers of Prison Ministry India at St Aloysius University. The inaugural programme marked a collaborative initiative between St Aloysius University, Mangaluru, and the Prison Ministry India (PMI) National Office at Carmelaram, Bengaluru, aimed at strengthening professional skills among prison ministry volunteers across the country.
The programme, launched on campus on Monday, seeks to equip PMI volunteers with foundational and applied competencies in counselling and psychology, enabling them to offer informed, empathetic, and ethical support to prison inmates and their families. Organisers noted that the course responds to a growing need for structured psychological training in correctional and rehabilitative settings.
Course relevance for prison ministry volunteers
Welcoming the gathering, Prof Edmund Frank, Course Coordinator, introduced the dignitaries and outlined the academic framework of the diploma. He said the four-month online format has been designed to ensure accessibility for volunteers working in different regions, while maintaining academic rigour and practical relevance.
Explaining the significance of the programme, Rev Dr Francis Kodiyan, MCBS, National Coordinator and Co-Founder of Prison Ministry India, said specialised training in counselling and psychology has become essential for PMI volunteers. He observed that prison ministry today requires a deeper understanding of mental health challenges, trauma, addiction, and reintegration issues faced by inmates, making formal training indispensable.
Bishop highlights national impact
In his inaugural address, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha congratulated St Aloysius University and Prison Ministry India for conceptualising and implementing a programme that addresses a critical social need. He said the diploma would serve prison ministry volunteers across India by enhancing their capacity to offer compassionate, informed, and effective support within prisons.
He emphasised that counselling grounded in ethical practice and psychological understanding can play a transformative role in rehabilitation and social reintegration, particularly for vulnerable populations within the criminal justice system.
University assures support for outreach initiatives
Addressing the gathering, Dr Ronald Nazareth, Registrar of St Aloysius University, conveyed an encouraging message and reiterated the institution’s openness to socially relevant outreach programmes. He assured full academic and administrative support for initiatives that combine professional education with service to society.
Presiding over the programme, Rev Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of the University, shared insights from his personal experience working with prison inmates at Tihar Jail. He noted that this was the fourth diploma programme conducted with affiliation from St Aloysius University for prison inmates and volunteers, reflecting the University’s sustained engagement with prison reform and rehabilitation.
He underlined the importance of structured training in areas such as counselling psychology, communication, and ethics to ensure that volunteer interventions are both effective and responsible. The discipline of Counselling psychology, he added, provides essential tools for understanding human behaviour, trauma, and resilience.
Academic team and acknowledgements
The inaugural event was graced by Dr Rosa Nimmy Mathew, Co-coordinator and Resource Person for the programme, and Dr Saritha D’Souza, who highlighted the academic content and learning outcomes expected from the course. The curriculum includes theoretical foundations, practical applications, and contextual understanding relevant to prison environments.
Sr Amala, National Secretary of Prison Ministry India, proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the Bishop, University leadership, faculty, and organisers for their support in launching the programme.
Strengthening rehabilitation through education
Organisers stated that the diploma aims to professionalise volunteer engagement in prisons by providing structured knowledge and supervised learning. Participants are expected to gain skills in basic counselling techniques, ethical practice, psychological assessment, and crisis response, tailored to the realities of prison ministry.
By leveraging online delivery, the programme ensures nationwide participation while maintaining academic oversight from St Aloysius University. The collaboration is seen as a model for how higher education institutions can partner with civil society organisations to address complex social challenges.