Sotto il Monte

In the foothills of the Alps lies the beautiful northern Italian town of Bergamo. One of its claims to fame is that Ryanair flies in there utilising it as a gateway to Milan. The upper part of the town is a medieval gem featuring the fifteenth century red brick basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.  Go just a few miles down the road and you encounter the less imposing but equally charming town of Sotto il Monte which is the birthplace of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli better known to us as Pope John XXIII.
This small mountain town radiates the spirit of that good man and it is as if the inhabitants expect his return at any moment.  John was a bringer of peace in the world, which lived in the shadow of the cold war. He was also a great pastor who made a landmark visit to Rome's central prison and slipped out from the Vatican at night, dressed as an ordinary priest, to visit the poor and the sick.  In fact his night time walks became so famous that he was nicknames "Johnny Walker". Pope John showed a rare gift for preserving what was best from the past and combining it with optimistic confidence in the future.  he gave people hope.
This wonderful spirit, which touched the hearts of so many people, is summed up beautifully in his last will and testament where he writes:
"My dear children love each other. Search more for that which unites than that which divides.  In the hour of farewell, or better still, of see you soon, I want to remind everyone of that which is worth more in life - Blessed Jesus Christ, his Gospel, his holy Church, truth and kindness. I remember everyone and for everyone I will pray.  See you soon".

Fr Peter O'Reilly (Newsletter Editorial 16th October 2011)

Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO)

About the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO)

The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) is currently the only organisation working on behalf of Irish prisoners overseas and their families.
ICPO’s purpose is to promote social justice and human dignity for Irish people in prison overseas and their families. This is carried out by offering information, support and advocacy to prisoners and their families. Casework, publications and policy/networking are key elements of the service provision to the core group.

 

History of the ICPO

ICPO was established by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1985. At this time the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain were greatly concerned about the number of Irish women and men in prison in the UK. There were deeply held concerns regarding their trials and subsequent imprisonments. In recent years the ICPO has been able to offer a more comprehensive service to prisoners and to expand our existing services to prisoners’ families. This is due to an increased level of funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

 

ICPO Members

The ICPO is a subcommittee of the Council for Emigrants, chaired by:
Bishop Séamus Hegarty
The ICPO has two offices; one located in Maynooth, Co. Kildare and the other in London. The London office deals solely with Irish born prisoners held in the UK, while the Maynooth office assists Irish prisoners held all over the world.
Staff Maynooth: Joanna Joyce, Catherine Jackson, Sr Anne Sheehy
Volunteers Maynooth: Sr Agnes Hunt, Eileen Boyle, Joan O’Cléirigh, Sr Mary Whyte
Staff London: Liz Power, Joseph Cottrell-Boyce
Volunteers London: Sr Maureen McNally, Sr Cecelia Snape, Rev Stephen McKenna

 

Work of the ICPO

The ICPO works for all Irish prisoners wherever they are: it makes no distinction in terms of religious faith, the nature of the prison conviction, or of a prisoner’s status.
The objectives of the ICPO are to:
•Identify and respond to the needs of Irish prisoners abroad, and their families
•Research and provide relevant information to prisoners on issues such as deportation, repatriation and transfer
•Focus public attention on issues affecting Irish prisoners (ill-treatment, racist abuse, etc)
•Engage in practical work in aid of justice and human rights for Irish migrants, refugees and prisoners at an international level
•Visit Irish prisoners abroad when possible both in the UK and elsewhere

Contact:

Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO)
Columba Centre,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare
Ireland.
Tel.  00 353 1 5053156
Fax: 00 353 1 6016401
E Mail:  icpo@iecon.ie
Web:  www.catholicbishops.ie/prisoners-overseas