Perhaps one of the less visible ministries but certainly one which has engaged a significant number of Sisters over the years. From Trujillo in Peru to Bangor, Co Down (Ireland) and many places in between, there has been and continues to be recognition that those who are incarcerated deserve NOT to be ignored, not to be left by the wayside.
Still today, the role of Mercy within the prison environment continues to be a comprehensive one – ranging from involvement in formal initiatives such as the Bedford Row Family Project, Limerick originally set up by the Sisters in the South Central Province in 1999 as a joint venture with the Franciscan Friars, to the rather less formal engagement of visiting those in prison who “need to chat”. The focus of Mercy ministry, however, is not limited to those who are incarcerated but extends to their families as well as to those who, having served their sentence, are beginning a new chapter.
A recurring focus of Mercy involvement is within Education – one example being the Dillon’s Cross Project which was initiated more than twenty years ago by Cork Prison where it is still running today. Its remit: to support wives and partners of prisoners and ex-prisoners in acquiring formal qualifications. This has a dual purpose – to counteract the negative impact of having a partner in prison while at the same time try to break the cycle of reoffending. On the other side of the world, in Trujillo (Peru) the female inmates of El Milagro prison have been the focus of Mercy attention for the same length of time. Counselling which wants to encourage re-integration within the family unit is a major feature of the services offered as well as sewing classes which, upon release, will provide a source of income for the family.
Chaplaincy has been, from the outset, an entry point for Sisters of Mercy into this ministry with the parameters of the role loosely drawn around liaising with family members, accompanying the bereaved and ensuring that the real needs of each individual are discerned. Sisters have served in this capacity in at least six different prisons. One current example is the Sister in South Africa who runs behavioural courses for inmates of two correctional centres near Pretoria (South Africa); another is the Sister serving as volunteer chaplain for the Dochas Centre in Dublin. For those carrying out this role there is unanimity in the belief that at the heart of this ministry must lie the creation of a safe space for inmates to share their stories, their concerns and themselves.
The listening ear, the comforting word do not stop however with the release of those in prison. In many instances the relationship continues beyond the time of incarceration, whether that entails the occasional meeting up for a coffee or through regular phone calls, making sure that life with all its highs and lows has not dimmed the resolve of those who had committed to beginning their new chapter. It also stretches to encompass, for example, those released from prison who have mental health issues and are being treated at the Central Mental Hospital (Dublin), as well, of course, as family members of those who have come through the prison system and whose own lives have been broken by the impact of an experience which leaves an indelible mark.
At the aforementioned Bedford Row Project, a drop-in centre welcomes families of prisoners and ex-prisoners with a wide range of services such as counselling, a children’s club, creative writing groups and other support groups on offer for the wives and children. Links with other organisations provide the opportunity to broaden the circle of engagement – such as the connection with St. Nicholas Trust whose volunteer network provides the listening ear and the support to families of prisoners at the visitor centre in Cork prison. A similar service is replicated by its own group of volunteers at Mountjoy prison in the Dochas Centre (Dublin).
In most of the prisons where Mercy is engaged – Cork prison, Mountjoy, Limerick, Portlaoise – the time, energy and commitment given by many Sisters to this ministry might be referred to simply as “hospitality” – surely an understating of the comfort and the confidence that is instilled in those they encounter.
In addition to the efforts of Sisters in Peru, South Africa and Kenya, the ministry also reaches beyond the shores of Ireland through the ICPO (Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas), set up to provide information and support to those dealing with unfamiliar legal systems as well as possible language barriers. As a pen-friend scheme, involving both Sisters and Mercy Associates, it helps to alleviate some of the loneliness or sense of isolation felt at times by those paying the price far from home.
As part of the Congregational commitment to working through partnerships to address social injustice, Mercy is providing support to the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) as they work towards achieving real change within the penal system in Ireland.
While a significant number of Sisters have shared their experience of this Mercy activity, enabling the narrative of prison ministry to unfold, others preferred not to do so. It would be remiss not to acknowledge efforts which do not appear in writing, Sisters whose commitment has not been recorded. The desire to remain invisible must be respected but the contribution they have made and continue to make to prison ministry cannot be forgotten.
Today eighteen Sisters from different parts of the Congregation continue to minister in 11 different prisons. The following diagram attempts to illustrate the nature and breadth of engagement within prison ministry.
