Each year, the Catholic Church in Australia marks Prisoners’ Sunday, inviting us to pray for those who are incarcerated, their families, victims of crime, correctional staff and the chaplains who serve within our prisons. This year, Prisoners’ Sunday falls on 8 November.  

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 the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, 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. 

Recently, Deacon Gerard McCarthy, one of the Diocese’s prison chaplains, 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 Gerard 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, Gerard 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, Gerard 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. 

Prison chaplaincy is not about excusing wrongdoing or overlooking the harm caused by crime. It reflects the Christian belief that justice and mercy belong together, and that even in places marked by regret and brokenness, the Gospel offers the possibility of healing, reconciliation and renewal. Chaplains meet people at some of the lowest moments of their lives. Their ministry is one of presence, prayer and accompaniment, encouraging those in their care to reflect honestly and to hope for a better future. 

Reflecting on the experience, Gerard 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.” 

As we mark Prisoners’ Sunday, we give thanks for the chaplains, volunteers and correctional staff who serve faithfully in this demanding ministry. We pray for those in prison, and for the victims of crime and their families, that all may find healing and peace. And we pray for everyone working to build a safer, more compassionate community. 

For when we reach out to those who are wounded, forgotten or alone, we encounter the heart of the Gospel. And as Gerard’s experience reminds us, sometimes the greatest grace is simply being remembered.