Ana Paula Ramos
Chaplain Ana Paula Ramos is a trilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese) board-certified professional clinical chaplain with a strong background in theology, pastoral care, and correctional ministry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Centro Universitário Internacional UNINTER in Brazil and is completing a Master of Divinity at Kairos University, alongside completing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training. After a nine-year educational journey, she became board certified and formally began her chaplaincy work in 2020.
Her professional ministry is centered on prison and correctional chaplaincy. She serves as a spiritual director with Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc., where she oversees and supports programs within male, female, and youth correctional facilities. In her daily work, she provides pastoral counseling to incarcerated individuals, prison staff, and their families, addressing emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. She is also actively involved in outreach efforts, including reconnecting families, supporting rehabilitation, and coordinating resources for inmate welfare.
Beyond her chaplaincy role, she is an author and advocate for healing and restoration, having published faith-based works on Amazon including a devotional and personal testimony book. A former single mother, she funded her education through entrepreneurship, running a cleaning business while completing her degrees without student loans. Her work continues to focus on spiritual direction, life coaching, and supporting transformation in the lives of individuals impacted by incarceration, divorce, and personal hardship.
• CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education)
• Board Certified Professional Clinical Chaplain ( BCC)
• Kairos University - M.Div.
• Kairos Prison Ministry
• Spiritual Director for Kairos Prison Ministry in Delaware
• Prison Chaplaincy Services
• Donation Coordination for Inmates
What do you attribute your success to?
I know in my heart I have the gift to do this job, so I have to fight for it. I'm happy doing it now, especially when I see the transformation in people's lives. Like, if I knew before that my life would be transforming so many lives, I would have done it sooner. When I was going through my education, it was hard to pay for everything by myself. My education was very expensive, I spent like a quarter of a million dollars, and I paid cash for everything. I do not have any student loans, I never borrowed money from nobody or from the bank. I almost stopped, I almost gave up. But one chaplain that was about to retire told me, do not give up, you have a gift, God has blessed you and sent you with health and jobs, do not stop, keep going, you're gonna get there. And I listened to him, and I got there. I believe in being transparent and not lying to people, always being truthful. When you're trying to do something big, there are a lot of things that come against you to make you feel sad and stop and give up. Don't do it, keep going.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't stop, don't give up. It was hard for me to pay for everything by myself. My education was very expensive. I spent like a quarter of a million dollars, and I paid cash for everything. I do not have any student loans, I never borrowed money from nobody or from the bank, so I almost stopped, I almost gave up. And one chaplain that was about to retire told me, do not give up. You have a gift. God has blessed you and sent you with health and jobs, do not stop, keep going, you're gonna get there. And I listened to him, and I got there.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I will tell them, do not give up, and keep fighting, because when you're trying to do something big, it's a lot of things that come against you to make you feel sad, and stop, and give up. Don't do it, keep going. You have to stay resilient and keep fighting for your dreams, because your hard work will eventually pay off.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It's hard to get a paid job as a chaplain, because when chaplains get a job like that, they don't leave until they retire, so they stay like 20-something years. I volunteer in all the jails, and then when there was a spot, they called me and said, oh, we want you to get this job, because we already know you. So it's hard to get a chaplain job if you're not volunteering in this area inside the prison first. You have to build relationships and prove yourself through volunteer work before paid opportunities become available.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency is everything to me. I don't lie to people, and I'm always being truthful. I believe in being honest and straightforward in all my interactions, whether I'm counseling inmates, working with staff, or dealing with family members. This truthfulness is what allows me to build trust and create real transformation in people's lives. I also value persistence and determination, never giving up even when things are difficult, because I know in my heart I have the gift to do this work.
Locations
Jehovah Jireh Church
Stratford, CT 06615