Praestolari exists because contemplative fellowship changes lives. We believe that when the experience of incarceration is united with prayer and community, there is great potential for healing and transformation.

Our work is organized around five pillars…

Inside the Walls

Praestolari provides support for those cultivating contemplative practices while serving time:

  • directly, through our Centering Inside newsletter, Locked Up and Free pamphlets, and other resources.

  • and indirectly, through supporting the volunteers who facilitate circles inside locked facilities

Each volunteer and resource carries a message of hope to those currently undergoing an experience that can easily feel isolating and dehumanizing. This reminder that all are seen, loved, and valued without conditions fosters an experience of freedom no walls can contain.

Outside the Walls

For those finishing a sentence, Praestolari provides books and technical resources, and — alongside Contemplative Outreach's Prison Outreach Service Team (COPOST) — connection to a growing community of Centering Prayer practitioners. Having a supportive community of others who have traveled similar paths nurtures belonging, reduces isolation, and reinforces the message that spiritual growth and community support do not end at the prison gate.

Contemplative Retreats

Praestolari and COPOST jointly host an annual Centering Prayer Intensive Retreat for those who have experienced incarceration. Lodging, food, transportation, and all retreat fees are covered, making participation possible for those who could not otherwise consider it. To learn more or to download the flyer, click here.

Contemplative Correspondence

Praestolari facilitates correspondence between COPOST volunteers and those experiencing incarceration. Through this partnership, we provide a safe, supportive framework for authentic dialogue, allowing participants to deepen their contemplative practice and accompany one another on the spiritual journey. Using only first names helps create a sense of safety and trust for everyone involved, allowing relationships to develop gradually and organically while honoring institutional requirements and appropriate boundaries.

Prison Outreach Networking Database

POND helps get mail to those inside. It stores and consolidates information, making it possible to manage communications and maintain continuity of contact across changes in resident locations and varied jurisdictional rules. Central to our mission of building community, POND improves mailing efficiency and helps ensure recipients are not lost — both while in the system and during the transition back into free society.