The book, “An Imprisoned Heart,” received an honorable mention in the Pastoral Ministry category. The book was also listed among the top 20 finalists in the International Latino Book Awards inspirational book category.
Alexander’s book explains that many people who have a loved one that is imprisoned or detained are often imprisoned by their own emotions. They need assistance to help them cope, but do not know where to go.
“I see this as a window or a mirror so that one may see themselves in the stories being shared,” Alexander said. “For me, it is important to share these stories.”
Alexander was inspired to work on this book because she found many people were going to other churches to find assistance and resources.
She worked with Gerardo Gomez, a prison chaplain in Los Angeles, to offer this book as a resource to families looking for help, and for restorative justice ministers. She hopes this resource will help to shed some light on what the Catholic Church is doing in ministering to the families of the incarcerated.
The book serves as a guide, leading the reader in the spiritual elements of the bereavement process. Each chapter focuses on one of the fives stages of the grieving process as described by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
Each topic is explored through prayers, actions, and testimonies to help family members deal with this hardship experience.
“In these stories we find the pain and sadness, but we also find hope,” Alexander said.
“An Imprisoned Heart” is available in English and Spanish through World Library Publications.