This presentation weaves together personal testimony, Catholic social teaching, and practical guidance to frame re-entry work as a ministry of relationship, dignity, and faithful presence. The speaker shares her journey from incarceration and personal trauma to faith, community, and service, illustrating how transformation occurred not through resources alone, but through people who chose to walk with her beyond her mistakes. Drawing on Scripture, Vincentian spirituality, and lived experience, she emphasizes that the Gospel calls believers to the margins, to prisons, shelters, and homes, where Christ is found in relationship rather than abstraction.

The talk connects Vincentian principles to real-world re-entry practice, underscoring that love must be paired with wisdom through boundaries that protect safety, trust, and sustainability. Practical guidance is offered on ethical service, including confidentiality, non-financial relationships, safe engagement, respectful language, and appropriate referral to resources. The speaker highlights the distinct needs of individuals leaving jail versus prison and explains how trauma, institutionalization, and crisis affect memory, decision-making, and trust after release.

Throughout, the core message remains consistent. Re-entry is not about fixing people or providing lists of services. It is about listening, consistency, shared humanity, and helping one step at a time. Volunteers are encouraged to avoid saviorism, honor dignity, build trust through presence, and recognize that transformation flows both ways. The presentation concludes by situating this work within a broader explain of faith, inviting continued service through both re-entry and prison ministry, and closing with a prayer that calls listeners to serve with wisdom, love extravagantly, and carry light into every encounter.