www.prisonsweek.org/2010

For some time in our Justice and Peace group we have been trying to find some way to highlight the fact that prisoners, irrespective of what they have done, must be treated with humanity and respect. This is probably the most difficult project we have ever been involved in. While it is easy to drum up support for people affected by floods or famine and our parish of St Mary's have supported our projects very well, support for prisoners is proving difficult even for members of our own group.

Once again Prisonsweek is upon us 21st - 27th November and we in St Mary's Justice and Peace group have set ourselves the challenge to do something to mark the week. Through work I found the website http://www.prisonsweek.org/2010 which has a wealth of stuff to download. There is a lovely prayer leaflet on the home page and about halfway down the page there is a link to another page which is full of reflective diaries from prisoners, chaplains, governors, mothers and many more involved in the day to day life of prisoners.
I am hoping that our parish will be able to use these resources in the liturgies over this week.
The church in Ireland have, in their wisdom, dropped prisoner week from the liturgical calendar and replaced it with Restorative Justice Sunday.