One of the lovely things about preparing for Christmas is attending a ‘proper’ Carol Service. Pact is the national Catholic charity providing support to prisoners and their families. We are holding two Advent Carol services this year, in London and in Birmingham. Why are we doing that? What does it mean to gather and sing beautiful carols and eat mince pies together at what is for families separated by imprisonment, such a tough time.

There will be a record 100,000 children across England & Wales who go to sleep on Christmas Eve this year knowing that their mum or dad is in prison. Pact’s recent ‘Serving a Hidden Sentence’ research heard from families about the financial and emotional challenges of having a loved one inside: “My partner is 300 miles away from us, so I have to travel a 600-mile round trip with two young children and stay overnight in hotels… It’s exhausting, and financially I can’t afford to do it more often. So we lose visits. Bonds are weakened because of this.”

A Pact Carol Service represents an opportunity to stand in solidarity with women and men who will spend Christmas inside, and with their families. A person with lived experience of the criminal justice system will share something of their experience as an integral part of the Service. Our readings, prayers and reflections will help us prepare our hearts for Christmas in a way that ‘enlarges the space in the tent’ – or maybe in the stable! – to include our brothers and sisters affected by imprisonment. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis reminds us that, ‘… we need only have a pure and simple desire to be a people, a community, constant and tireless in the effort to include, integrate and lift up…’

Join us at one of our events and be part of this work for the common good.

London Pact Advent Carol Service 5^th December 7pm Roger McGough, presenter of BBC Radio’s Poetry Please will be joining us to read his poetry. Roger was raised in the Catholic faith and was a pupil at St Mary’s College in Crosby, Merseyside.

“We are delighted to announce that Roger McGough will be reading his beautiful poetry at the Carol Service,” said Pact.

“Roger is one of Britain’s best-loved poets, presenter of BBC Radio’s Poetry Please, and a good friend to Pact. His poem Everything Touches brought hope to people inside as part of a Pact National Prison Radio programme during the pandemic.

“At our Carol service, the choir of Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith will lead us in song as we prepare for Christmas and bring prisoners and their families before the Lord in prayer. This is a great opportunity to hear Our Lady of Victories’ fantastic Grand Organ being played too.

Stay and continue the conversation over refreshments in the Hall downstairs. We look forward to meeting you in person.”

‘I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:36

There is full disabled access for this event.

Birmingham Pact Advent Carol Service 7th December 7pm