Like every year, as the holidays approach, they do not forget the prisoners who will spend Christmas night behind bars and without their loved ones. Thursday, December 19, volunteers from Arapej (Association for reflection on prison and justice action) and chaplains of the Catholic faith met at the Arapej family reception center, a stone’s throw from the remand center, in order to make no less than 200 Christmas packages for prisoners. A supervisor also came to give them a hand and prepare for their arrival at the prison. Remember that the Red Cross is also involved in this operation which has existed for more than twenty years, but was not represented.
Christiane Pernin, president of Arapej, was surrounded by Valérie, Dominique and Jacqueline, Arapej volunteers, but also by Pascal Dupont, Jean-Yves Chauveau and Patrice Hervy, three of the four Catholic chaplains of the prison. Formerly Spip (prison integration and probation service), the cultural association of the remand center and the Food Bank were involved. “Each package contains a pretty cup, pods of coffee, tea and sugar, a chocolate bar from a well-known local brand, a writing notebook, postcards and envelopes donated by parishioners, chocolates and cakes offered by the Bishop of Blois accompanied by a little personal note, a deck of cards, an ephemeris with thoughts to meditate on and pens. »
“They are waiting for these packages firmly”
The packages were distributed in the afternoon to the cells. A service will be celebrated on Christmas morning by a representative of the bishop for Catholic prisoners. Mgr Bestion will celebrate a mass on Sunday December 30. These packages are made up of purchases financed by donations from the Red Cross, Arapej, as well as the bishopric and chaplaincy.
“The holidays are a difficult time for incarcerated people and their loved ones, particularly children, who are welcomed into the reception center, indicates Christiane Perninfamilies are authorized to bring packages between December 2 and January 6, which must not exceed 5 kg and contain only non-perishable foods, for example biscuits. »
The children also take advantage of their time at Arapej to write Christmas cards to their fathers. There will be a visiting room on Tuesday December 24. “ Most prisoners are touched to learn that people outside are thinking about them; some have no family or are cut off from loved ones.testifies Pascal Dupont, They are waiting for these packages, some asked me last week when they were going to receive their diaries and their 2025 calendars.”
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