Pastoral Letter for Prison Ministry Sunday

Bishop Jose Pulickal

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). As the Catholic Church celebrates Prison Ministry Sunday, I invite you to reflect on a profound truth at the heart of our Christian faith: no one is beyond redemption. The theme of this year's observance – "Fallen Humans May Rise Again on Wings of Prayer" –reminds us that through God's grace and with the compassionate support of the Church, renewal is always possible. In a world quick to condemn and slow to forgive, the Gospel calls us to a higher truth: every human being, no matter how far they have fallen, is precious in the eyes of God and capable of transformation through His mercy and our prayers.

 A Call to Redemption

From the very beginning of Scripture, we see God's unwavering love for the broken. Adam and Eve, though fallen, were not abandoned. King David, despite grave sin, repented, and became a man after God's own heart. St Paul, once a persecutor, became the apostle to the Gentiles. The Prodigal Son was not only forgiven, but celebrated. These are not merely stories of the past. They are testimonies that no fall is final when there is faith and repentance. As God declares through the prophet Ezekiel: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live" (Ezek 33:11).

 Jesus Christ: Merciful and Restorative

In His public ministry, Jesus walked among the outcasts - sinners, tax collectors, even criminals. From the Cross, He spoke words of forgiveness to a repentant thief: "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" (Lk 23:43). He dined with tax collectors, forgave adulterers, and sought out the lost. Through parables like the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son, He revealed the heart of the Father: "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Lk 15:7). Christ's mission was – and remains – to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10).

Prison Ministry Mumbai: A Volunteer’s Chronicle

Jaime Pereira

CCTV cameras at Dadar railway station captured a young man in his early twenties stealing. He needed money to fund his drug habit, and had spent ten nights in prison. Three days after his imprisonment, he was informed that his father had died of a heart attack. Nobody from his family had come to visit him in prison. A 29-year-old inmate had spent two months in prison. He was an under-trial for murder. A petty fight went out of hand, and in a fit of rage, he picked up a stone and flung it, killing a person. Now in prison, he spends hours reflecting on his actions. A woman in her early thirties was waiting to get even with her mother-in-law. Hatred had built up. That opportunity came when her husband was out of town. She picked up a kitchen knife, and slashed her mother-in-law. She was arrested and remanded as an under-trial in prison. Her two small children cry for her daily. These and countless more are incarcerated in the prisons of Mumbai.

Prisoners are one of the least-reached groups in the world – cut off from society and left alone to cope with their feelings of anger, hopelessness, and despair. Solitude leads to depression.

In the Gospel of Matthew 25:36, Jesus states, "I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Jesus Christ's teachings and actions highlighted the plight of prisoners, and showcases the importance of compassion, forgiveness and care for those in prison.

Thus, volunteering in Prison Ministry is a calling to help those incarcerated to cope, heal, reform and be rehabilitated into mainstream society. To be a volunteer requires qualities of empathy, being non-judgmental, forgiveness and faith. We believe that there is dignity in every prison inmate; and it is a most rewarding experience to sit with prisoners without judgment, empathise with their incarceration, and help bring meaning to their dreary lives in prison.

The volunteers of Prison Ministry Mumbai (PMM) serve in five prisons and five Children's Homes.

The Father’s Love Behind Bars: A Jubilee of Hope

Maritta Pereira

Seventeen years ago, I walked into my first prison – Thane Central Jail, and over the next decade, I was privileged to visit prisons in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Kerala. I visited not as a social worker, but as a messenger of the Father, whose love knows no walls, no bars, and no bounds. Volunteering with the Prison Ministry taught me something no classroom ever could – God is already present behind those locked doors, patiently whispering hope into the ears of the broken. His love reaches every person, affirming their dignity and worth.

As we celebrate the Jubilee of Prisoners this August, we are reminded that the Jubilee, rooted in Leviticus 25, was a sacred year – a time of Release, Restoration, and Renewal – celebrated every 50 years. However, at the start of His ministry, Jesus proclaimed the "Year of the Lord's Favour" (Luke 4:18-19) – a perpetual, spiritual Jubilee, ushering in a new era of divine mercy, grace, and salvation; revealing how the Jubilee of ancient Israel foreshadowed the deeper liberation and ultimate redemption found in Christ. Thus, the themes of the Jubilee resonate profoundly in the hearts of prisoners and all those who walk beside them. At its core, it is a call from a loving Father, eager for His children to come home. God yearns for His children to return to Him, to be restored, redeemed, and made whole.

Many prisoners believe they are forgotten by society, and even by God. But the Father's love tells a different story. Though wounded and broken by sin, His image remains within them, and they are still His beloved children - redeemed not by merit, but by mercy.

Dowry Deaths continue  to Scar a Free India

 Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

In the 21st century—an era defined by Artificial Intelligence, space exploration, and technological advancement—a heartbreaking case from Tamil Nadu has shaken the conscience of an entire nation. It is both shocking and deeply tragic that we lost a 27-year-old woman, Rithanya, to dowry-related harassment. In a time when women are soaring to new heights, Rithanya endured relentless physical, emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse—ultimately costing her life.

 Cruel Comparison and Continuous Harassment

Rithanya, the beloved daughter of Annadurai, a successful businessman from Tiruppur, was married to Kavin Kumar, the heir of a flourishing textile business. The union between these two prominent families in the district was celebrated lavishly on April 11, 2025 with a marriage celebration. According to reports, Rithanya's family gave a dowry of 100 sovereigns of gold and a luxury Volvo car worth ₹70 lakhs. Despite this extravagant dowry, Rithanya was subjected to abuse from the very beginning of her marriage. Her in-laws reportedly taunted her, claiming that other brides brought large sums of money to help their husbands establish businesses, while she brought "too little." This cruel comparison led to continuous harassment and unbearable pressure.

 Dreams Shattered

Rithanya's story is not just her personal tragedy; it is a wake-up call for all of us. In an age of unprecedented technological and social progress, how can such regressive and cruel practices still persist in our society? Kavin's family, originally based in Coimbatore where he was studying, moved to Avinashi before the wedding, and built a new house.

The Craftsmanship of Love!

Raymond Machado

On a quiet April morning in Melbourne, I stood in my son Ralfy's driveway, watching two tradesmen at work – an installer and his assistant carefully fitting an auto-closing mechanism on the metal gate. Their precision was almost hypnotic. With every bolt tightened and wire connected, their commitment to detail was evident. There were no unnecessary movements, no careless shortcuts; only a deep respect for their craft. Ralfy, ever respectful of good work, collaborated with them thoughtfully, ensuring everything was done not just adequately, but perfectly.

As I watched them, I was struck by a simple but profound observation – in Australia, the trades are honoured. Unlike in India, where vocational labour is too often relegated to a lower rung of the social ladder, the plumber, mason, electrician, carpenter or gate-installer in Australia is a respected professional. These men and women undergo certification, often years of formal training, and are remunerated in a manner that allows them to own homes, support families and live with dignity.

It's a system rooted in equity – a society that values both mind and hand.

And yet, as I admired this culture of professional excellence, another thought quietly intruded: why is this same meticulous care not applied to relationships? Why does a society that values such thoroughness in material work seem to neglect emotional labour?

Australia's divorce rate stands at around 30%, a staggering figure when one considers the brevity and fragility that this suggests. Many marriages end not just in separation, but in prolonged legal battles over assets, property and custody. Despite the infrastructure of affluence, education and healthcare, relationships often feel built on shifting sand.

JOY 2025  -  Pilgrimage to Rome

 Shalveeta Pareira

We were the 47 chosen ones from the Diocesan Youth Centre, Bandra — hearts brimming with anticipation, bags packed not just with clothes, but with hope itself. We set out as Pilgrims of Hope for the Jubilee of Youth (JOY) 2025, stepping into the unknown with no plans, no fixed expectations — only a trembling 'yes' and a spirit of surrender. And so, with wide-open hearts, the journey began.

On July 28, 2025, our plane touched down in Rome. From there, our bus wound its way to the charming hilltop village of Anticoli Corrado, our home for the days to come. Nestled among lush green hills and kissed by the gentle summer rain, it felt like a slice of heaven. Peaceful streets, warm faces, and an atmosphere steeped in quiet joy welcomed us.

Our host, the gracious Padre Anacleto, instantly made us feel like family. That first evening, we gathered in a quaint local restaurant run by the loveliest couple, sharing a meal that felt more like a family dinner than a formal welcome. Already, the bonds of friendship were forming.

From the next morning, the rhythm of our days unfolded - exploring Rome in small groups, yet never losing the sense of unity that tied us together.

 Walking Through History and Holiness

Our feet traced the ancient stones of faith as we visited:

• The Vatican and St Peter's Square

• The Basilica of St Mary Major

• The Basilica of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori