Archdiocese of Oviedo celebrates Mercy Week with prison pastoral initiatives

The Archdiocese of Oviedo held a series of prison pastoral activities during the week of September 24 to honor the Virgin of Mercy, the patron saint of prisoners and penitentiary institutions.

A former inmate spoke to prisoners at an Asturias prison about the support he received from the ministry. Ana Álvarez, the diocesan delegate for prison ministry, noted that the speaker shared his testimony through music. Archbishop Jesús Sanz Montes presided over a Mass inside the prison on Friday afternoon after a previous celebration was held at the San Salvador de Posada de Llanera parish.

A group of inmates, officials, and ministry volunteers walked the Camino de Santiago from the Oviedo Cathedral to Santiago de Compostela. They joined members from 23 prisons for a Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral last Saturday, an initiative organized by the Episcopal Conference.