Prisoners’ Sunday – 11 October 2026
For many people leaving prison, the day of release is imagined as a new beginning. Yet for those walking through the prison gates, the first days and weeks can bring enormous challenges.
Finding somewhere safe to live, securing employment, reconnecting with family, attending probation appointments and simply navigating everyday life can feel overwhelming. For some, there may be no home to return to at all.
One story shared by colleagues who support people leaving prison has stayed with me. A man was released with nowhere to go and was expected to rebuild his life while sleeping rough. Others face the additional challenge of navigating licence conditions that can make it difficult to reach essential appointments. As one prison chaplain put it, “They’ve been set up to fail.”
These experiences remind us why Prisoners’ Sunday, celebrated this year on 11 October, matters so much.
Prisoners’ Sunday is the Catholic Church’s national day of prayer and action for prisoners, their children and families, and all those affected by imprisonment. It is an opportunity to remember the people behind the headlines and statistics and, above all, to recognise their dignity as children of God.
Jesus reminds us of our Christian responsibility in the words:
“I was in prison and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:36
Supporting a fresh start
Organisations such as the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) see every day how practical support can make a real difference.
Help with housing, employment, family relationships and the challenges of resettlement can give someone the opportunity to begin again. Sometimes, it can be as simple as having someone alongside you who believes that change is possible.
But imprisonment affects far more people than the person serving a sentence.
Children, spouses, partners, parents and wider families can experience isolation, financial hardship and uncertainty when someone they love goes to prison. Maintaining family relationships can be difficult, yet those relationships can be crucial in helping someone rebuild their life.
One mother, Faye, has spoken about the impact imprisonment had on her children. For nearly two years, they experienced birthdays, school days and everyday life without their mum at home. Through prison visits and family activities supported by Pact, Faye and her children were able to remain connected and maintain the bond that meant so much to them.
As Faye says:
“Your children are doing your sentence with you.”
Her experience reminds us that behind every prison sentence are families and children whose lives can be changed profoundly.
A time for prayer and action
This Prisoners’ Sunday, we are invited to pray for everyone affected by imprisonment: prisoners and those leaving prison, their children and families, victims of crime, prison chaplains, prison staff, volunteers and all those working to support rehabilitation and reconciliation.
We can also ask ourselves how we might respond to Christ’s call to see him in those who are often overlooked or forgotten.
A fresh start requires more than simply opening a prison gate. It requires hope, dignity, practical support and people willing to walk alongside those trying to rebuild their lives.
Please join us in prayer this Prisoners’ Sunday and, where possible, support the work of organisations such as Pact, which provide practical and emotional support to prisoners and their families.
Together, we can help make a genuine fresh start possible for people whose lives have been affected by imprisonment.
Please visit https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/faith/events/prisoners-sunday for more details.
