In her ministry of restorative justice, St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Suzanne Jabro often visits schools and organizations, talking about children visiting their moms and dads in prison through the Get On the Bus Program.

Recently at a Catholic school, she talked about what other children can do to help those visiting their parents only once a year, on Mother's Day or Father's Day. One young boy, a teacher noticed, looked very depressed, and began crying after the program. In talking to the boy, Sister Jabro learned he had a parent in prison. They talked for a while, she gave the child her card and told him he could call her anytime to talk about his experiences.

After spending close to 30 years working with those in prison and their families, Sister Jabro has seen that incarceration imprisons more than criminals - it separates families, very frequently repeats cycles of imprisonment of the next generation, and often brings no healing to victims of the crime. And it makes the families of the incarcerated victims as well.

Justice, often elusive, affects children the most. An estimated 856,000 children in California have a parent currently in the state's criminal justice system - one major reason Get On the Bus was launched in 2000.

More than 1,000 children visit their parents on Mother's Day and Father's Day. Get On the Bus costs $4,000 per bus or $75 per child, $300 for a grandparent and two children and includes lunch at prison, a T-shirt and photographs - one photo for the parent and another for the child. Counselors are available on the bus to assist the children before and after the visit.

The program now covers three regions statewide, Northern California, Central Coast, and Southern California - under the auspices of the organization founded by Sister Jabro: the Center for Restorative Justice Works. These "works" include Get On the Bus; the Chowchilla Family Express with weekly bus trips for families; and the Women and Criminal Justice Network, in which women outside prison minister to those inside.

Earlier this month, Sister Jabro and her staff, volunteers and many supporters held an open house and blessing of their new North Hollywood office for the Center for Restorative Justice Works. "We are grateful," Sister Jabro said, "to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for helping us begin this program and allowing us to get on our feet financially so that we could continue and expand this good work. We are also grateful to the many women religious communities, especially my own Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet, and the Jesuits, and to the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and many other organizations, churches and parishes who have been key supporters as well."

"But once a year is just not enough," she added. "Studies have shown that children who visit their parents do better in school and in their social lives."

For Mother's Day 2008, 46 buses filled with over 600 children and their guardians will travel from major cities throughout California to four women's prisons. For information, call (818) 980-7714.