Catholic, Protestant Christmas services to be broadcast for incarcerated individuals and their families
Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian today announced that Christmas services recorded by Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) chaplains will – for the first time – be available to both incarcerated individuals and their families this week.
These recordings will be in addition to regularly scheduled in-person services for incarcerated individuals throughout the holiday weekend at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction. The creation of these recorded services builds upon Easter and Eid services
that were delivered via video internally earlier this year due to COVID-19 precautions.
“Ensuring that families remain connected throughout incarceration is critically important,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “While we have traditionally thought of visits, phone calls and letters as the primary modes of connection during this time, we know that faith plays a central role for many. We hope making these services available simultaneously to those inside and outside our custody will help families maintain this important connection during the Christmas season.”
Those in custody may view the services during scheduled broadcasts on facility televisions over the next two days. Protestant services will air inside the facility on Christmas Eve at 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Christmas morning, while Catholic services will air inside the facility on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. and on Christmas Day at 11 a.m. Family members wishing to view the services may do so at the same time as their loved ones, or at any time, by visiting the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/MSOSheriff.
The services have also been added to tablets available in multiple units throughout the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction, to be watched anytime between Christmas Eve and January 15.
In addition to Christmas services, members of the MSO recently distributed gifts to children of individuals incarcerated at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction. The gifts were donated by The Judson Association of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM) and participating congregations and were wrapped by volunteers earlier this month. To learn more about this effort, please visit https://youtu.be/wwKFNTddgBM.
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