Verghese V Joseph –
Prison Ministry India (PMI) will bring together Church leaders, prison chaplains, volunteers, rehabilitation workers and correctional stakeholders from across the country for its 14th National Convention in Varanasi, , situated on the left bank of the Ganges River in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, from 17 to 20 October 2026. Hosted at Nav Sadhana Pastoral Centre, the four-day gathering will reflect on one of India’s most neglected social frontiers: the dignity, healing and reintegration of prisoners and their families.
The convention’s theme, “To Hear the Cry, Heal the Wound, Renew the Hope,” is drawn from Psalm 102:20: “To hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die.” It frames prison ministry not merely as charitable service, but as a moral and pastoral commitment to restore human dignity in a system often defined by punishment, stigma and isolation.
A National Moment for Prison Ministry
PMI, a national voluntary organisation under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), has worked since 1981 for the release, reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners. Its work extends beyond prison walls to families, especially children affected by a parent’s incarceration.
The organisation describes its mission through six commitments: to reach out, release, renew, rehabilitate, reintegrate and redeem prisoners. It has supported tens of thousands of prisoners and families through rehabilitation centres and thousands of volunteers across India, providing pastoral care, legal assistance, counselling, medical camps, vocational training and family reconciliation services.
The Varanasi convention is intended to consolidate this nationwide network. Delegates from PMI’s regional and state units will share field experiences, examine emerging challenges, strengthen cooperation and shape a renewed vision for prison ministry in the Indian context.
Four Pillars of Reflection
The programme is structured around four interconnected spiritual and pastoral dimensions: hearing the cry of prisoners, healing their wounds, renewing hope, and reflecting on the abolition of the death penalty. Special prayers will be offered for prisoners in India, Uttar Pradesh and across the world, as well as for PMI volunteers and all engaged in rehabilitation work.
The choice of Varanasi adds symbolic weight. One of India’s oldest living cities, it is a place where questions of life, death, redemption and renewal are woven into everyday public consciousness. For a convention centred on restoring hope to those behind bars, the setting underscores the convention’s central conviction: no human life should be regarded as beyond compassion or transformation.
The gathering opens on 17 October with a welcoming Holy Mass celebrated by Most Rev. Peter Remigius, the first CBCI chairperson for PMI. A documentary on Prison Ministry India, produced by Fr Prince Vettukattil MCBS, will also be released.
Inauguration and International Solidarity
The inaugural Holy Mass on 18 October will be celebrated by Most Rev. Raphy Manjaly, Archbishop of Agra, who will also deliver the keynote address. The inaugural session will include an introductory address by Rev. Dr. Francis Kodiyan MCBS, CBCI Secretary to Prison Ministry India, and a welcome by Most Rev. Eugene Joseph, Bishop of Varanasi.
The convention will also draw international attention. Messages are expected from Most Rev. Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Pontifical Delegate of the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC); Msgr Andrea Francia, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in India; and Rev Andrew Corley, CEO and President of Prison Fellowship International.
Mr. Rata Krishna Mishra, Superintendent of Central Jail, Varanasi, will inaugurate the conference, signalling the importance of collaboration between faith-based organisations and correctional institutions. Most Rev. Valan Arasu, CBCI Chairperson for Prison Ministry India, will deliver the presidential address, while former chairpersons and senior PMI leaders will also address delegates.
Housing as a New Beginning
A powerful moment of the inaugural ceremony will be the handing over of the key to the 100th house under the PMI Housing Project. The gesture represents more than shelter: for a person rebuilding life after imprisonment, a home can be the first stable ground from which to seek work, restore family ties and resist the pull of social exclusion.
The project reflects PMI’s broader understanding of rehabilitation. The ministry’s work includes helping released prisoners find employment, reconcile with families and regain a place in society. Its volunteers also provide legal support to those on trial and assistance to people wrongly imprisoned.
Several publications will be released during the convention, including The Burning Bush, Horizons of God’s Providence, The Gospel Behind Bars, Hope Behind Bars, Prison Ministry India – Birth and Growth, and Prison Ministry Sunday Pastoral Letters. These titles point to PMI’s effort to document lived experiences, deepen theological reflection and build a body of knowledge around restorative justice.
From Incarceration to Reintegration
Academic sessions on 18 October will examine PMI spirituality, the convention theme, the processes of incarceration, release, reformation and reintegration, prisoner rights and human rights. Speakers include Mar Jose Pulickal, Bishop of Kanjirappally and former CBCI Chairperson for PMI; Fr. Dr. Paul Puthussery; Rev. Reni George of Bengaluru; Fr. Varghese Karippery, PMI co-founder and former National Coordinator; and Fr. Dr. Raja, Secretary of the Justice, Peace and Development Commission.
Regional panels from southern, central, northern and northeastern India will bring local realities into the national conversation. The sessions will be complemented by cultural presentations, Eucharistic adoration and intercessory prayer for prisoners across Asia and the world.
On 19 October, discussions will turn to practical reform: recidivism, faith-based rehabilitation, children in conflict with the law, the influence of ECHO in Asian countries, and the trauma of imprisonment. Prof. Cyril John Moolakkattu of Christ University, Bengaluru, and Rev. Dr. Antony Sebastian, former Juvenile Court Judge and Director of ECHO, Bengaluru, will address rehabilitation and child welfare. Mrs. Josepheena will speak on traumatic prison experiences.
The day will also include group discussions, regional reporting, an open-floor session and the PMI General Body Meeting. Most Rev. Allwyn D’Silva, former PMI Chairperson and Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, will lead a session on contemporary challenges facing the ministry.
Reform, Recognition and Renewal
A major highlight will be the presentation of the 14th National Convention Statement, consolidating delegates’ reflections and recommendations. Sri S. Sreejith IPS, Director General of Police, Kerala, will speak on correctional reforms and innovations in Kerala—an important contribution at a time when Indian prison policy increasingly emphasises correction, reformation and rehabilitation alongside custody.
The valedictory programme will include awards, the release of a publication on PMI, recognition of outstanding state-level contributors, and honouring directors of PMI homes serving released prisoners and children of prisoners. Sr Amala DC, PMI National Secretary, will propose the vote of thanks.
The final day, 20 October, will focus on the abolition of the death penalty and prayer for PMI volunteers. Morning prayer will open the day, and Most Rev. Eugene Joseph will celebrate the concluding Holy Mass before delegates visit significant sites in Varanasi.
A Gospel Imperative
For PMI, the convention’s deeper purpose is rooted in the Gospel: “I was in prison, you visited me” (Matthew 25:36). The organisation’s work is therefore not only about welfare services, but about presence—visiting those whom society often prefers to forget.
As India grapples with prison overcrowding, delayed trials, social stigma and the difficult transition from custody to community, the Varanasi gathering seeks to reaffirm a simple but demanding principle: every prisoner remains a human being entitled to dignity, compassion and the possibility of a new beginning.
The 14th National Convention is expected to send a clear message from Varanasi: justice is incomplete if it ends at the prison gate. True renewal requires listening to prisoners, healing the wounds of incarceration, supporting their families and creating pathways for them to return to society with hope.