Prisoners' Sunday - A Fresh Start

Image: Pact

During Holy Week, you probably saw Pope Francis bending, despite his own frailties, to wash the feet of prisoners in Civitavecchia prison near Rome. The Italian national prison chaplain, Fr Raffaele Grimaldi, described Pope Francis' ministering to 'twelve prisoners, bending over their poverty and weaknesses, washing the feet of those who have walked paths of violence, trampling on the rights of the innocent, means for us a humble, incomprehensible and scandalous gesture that Jesus the Good Shepherd has given to humanity. "

Pact is the pioneering national Catholic charity that supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their children and families across England & Wales. We provide caring and life changing services at every stage of the criminal justice process: in court, in prison, on release, and in the community.

Pact's vision is of a society in which justice is understood as a process of restoration and healing, in which prisons are used sparingly and as places of learning and rehabilitation, and in which the innate dignity and worth of every human being is valued. We work for the common good of Society, taking a public health-based approach. This means we work at the intersection of criminal justice, child and family welfare, mental health, wellbeing provision and health & social care.

Prisoners' Sunday on 9 October, is when the Catholic Church across England & Wales particularly prays for, and with, prisoners and their families. It is an opportunity to reflect on how we encounter, and draw in from the margins, those among us who are affected by the criminal justice system.

"I was in prison and you visited me…" (Matthew 25:36)

Cardinal Nichols, the President of Pact, this year says: "Let us remember that our Lord calls the wellbeing of prisoners to our attention. Let us remember that families in our parishes may be enduring anxious worry, isolation and perhaps hardship while a loved one is in prison. It is good to know that Pact is there for people of all faiths and none, supporting prisoners and their families on our behalf and with our help."

Pact echoes the Cardinal's encouragement to all parishes in England & Wales. Please mark Prisoners' Sunday where you are. The numbers of people in prison have crept up in the last year. There are just over 81,000 men, women and young people in prison today. There are an estimated 92,420 children going to bed tonight without their mum or dad because they are in prison - a number that is also rising. We can and do support people in these terrible situations.

Our CEO Andy Keen-Downs, heard from a prisoner first-hand this week, "Our Pact worker helped him write the first letter he had ever written, reaching out to a family member who just might be willing to support him when he had no-one else to turn to."

Pact posts a Prisoners' Sunday Pack to every parish, arriving in the week of 19th September. We can provide a speaker - or maybe you feel called to speak up for prisoners and their families in your church? We ask parishes to consider taking a collection to support our work in the year ahead. Our Prisoners' Sunday webpages include simple fundraising event ideas, prayers, posters, a newsletter text, a donations link and social media resources.

LINKS

Pact Prisoners' Sunday Support and Resources: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/prisoners-sunday

Pact: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/

Contact Theresa and Marie for more information or with offers of help parish.action@prisonadvice.org.uk