The Church in Australia will mark Prison Sunday on November 8, inviting prayers for those who are incarcerated, their families, victims of crime, correctional staff and for prison chaplains. Source: Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.
That invitation is rooted in the Gospel. In Matthew 25, Jesus says, “I was in prison and you visited me.”
These words call us to remember that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy, and that healing for those who have offended, victims of crime and the wider community is a hope worth working toward.
In Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, this mission is carried out through the quiet work of prison chaplains. They accompany people through some of life’s most difficult moments, offering a listening ear, spiritual support, the sacraments and a reminder that they have not been forgotten by God.
Prison chaplain Deacon Gerard McCarthy saw the impact of that ministry when a relic of St Carlo Acutis visited Hunter Correctional Centre.
The visit was far from guaranteed. Tight security requirements meant there were significant hurdles to overcome. Yet Deacon McCarthy remained hopeful.
“I booked a meeting with the Governor of Hunter Correctional Centre and prayed asking St Carlo Acutis to intercede to God for us, to enable the approval,” he said.
When permission was granted, the chaplain saw more than an administrative success.
“To me, a miracle had occurred,” he said. “The visit of the holy saint’s relic would have been exactly what Jesus would want and do.”
What followed revealed something deeper than the visit itself. The prison chapel was filled with inmates, chaplains and staff. During a time of prayer and veneration, Deacon McCarthy observed that “a profound peace was experienced by all present” and that the respect shown by the inmates was “quite profound”.
Perhaps the most moving testimony came from one of the prisoners. Speaking on behalf of fellow inmates, he said they felt deeply humbled by the visit and grateful that their correctional centre had been chosen.
“The inmates were over the moon when they were told that St Carlo was coming to visit the sinners in this place,” he said.
Reflecting on the experience, Deacon McCarthy offered a simple insight into the role of the saints.
“To me, the saints of the Catholic Church are like celebrities,” he said. “But unlike the celebrities of the world, the saints are not for themselves. They always point in one direction, and that is toward God.”
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Prisoners’ Sunday: Hope where it is needed (Maitland-Newcastle Diocese)
