Visitation of the old gaols in various towns throughout the country was among the ministries of our ancestral Sisters of Mercy. In more recent years prison ministry has been more formalised when Sisters were appointed prison chaplains. What does prison chaplaincy involve for a Sister of Mercy? They hold all prisoners in an embrace of compassion, love and respect, irrespective of their crimes, creeds, nationalities and the bars and prison officers who surround them. The Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform hold chaplains in high esteem and value their pastoral contribution within the prison population. Chaplains are granted the status of Assistant Governors, but more importantly from the perspective of ministry, the chaplains have access to all prisoners, in every part of the prisons throughout the three hundred and sixty five days of the year.

Mercy Sisters bring prisoners to experience the love of Christ for them, by being a non-judgemental and loving presence among them, both collectively and individually, and they bridge the gap between the prisoners behind bars, and their loved ones at home, many of whom feel incarcerated too, with feelings of shame, sadness, powerlessness and deprivation. Sisters of Mercy journey with prisoners as they also visit them in hospital; they visit their sick relatives and they attend funerals of their loved ones. Prison ministry opens up a whole new world to chaplains and to the many Sisters of Mercy who lend their support to this ministry of mercy.