Overcrowded prisons criticised
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has welcomed the “considerable progress” shown in the Irish Prison Service annual report, which was launched this week, but said “chronic overcrowding” still needs to be addressed.
Overcrowding continues in the Dóchas Centre, Cork prison and Limerick men and women’s prison, said Eoin Carroll, Advocacy Officer in the Jesuit Centre, calling for a formal cell sharing risk assessment.
“Approximately 46% of the prison population share a cell. It is also unfortunate that the new prison in Cork will further institutionalise cell-sharing as a feature of prison accommodation, a practice that was first formalised 30 years ago and at variance of international best practice – a particularly retrograde step,” he said.
Family focus at Knock Shrine
A programme of events at Knock Shrine, developed to support and encourage families, will open with a blessing of young children at the basilica at 12noon on Saturday, July 9.
The Family Focus Week programme will include workshops on a range of topics including ‘Dealing with Addiction’ and ‘Passing on my Faith’.
A special feature of the week is the blessing of a new remembrance garden, dedicated to the memory of all deceased children on Saturday, July 9 at 2pm.
For more information contact (094) 93 75320 or familycentre@knockshrine.ie
The Priests competition winner
Kay Cody has won a pair of tickets to see the highly praised classical music group The Priests at Holy Trinity Church, Rathdowney, Co. Laois. The concert will be held on Friday, July 1 at 8pm and is part of a parish event organised to mark the ordination to the priesthood of parishioner Eoin Casey OP. Congratulations to Ms Cody and thanks to all who participated. Tickets are still available for €20 at Rathdowney Parish Office on 0505-046282 or rathdowney@ossory.ie