kitten and mailboxRemember the feeling of excitement that you used to get as a child when you received a letter in the mail? At Dismas Ministry, we get that feeling everyday when we read the letters from inmates who are requesting or who have received our materials.

We work to serve  a variety of inmates’ needs in several ways, both through direct and indirect outreach. The service we consistently provide is sending free Catholic scripture and spiritual resources to inmates.

This includes Bibles, prayer books and study courses. You can check them out here>.

Our process of providing this service is special. Inmates learn about us on a word of mouth basis, whether it is from a loved one on the outside who gives them our information or a friend imprisoned with them who is already receiving our materials. The inmates then write us a letter sharing their interest in a specific item or simply learning more about how we can help them.

dismas materials box

Package filled with the materials Dismas Ministry initially sends inmates.

We answer their initial letter with general information about our ministry, including a material brochure listing  all of the items they may request. Thus begins a correspondence back and forth, where we are able to provide the resources inmates need to grow in their faith.

Since inmates actually have to write to us, our materials go to inmates who really want to make an effort to change their lives. We see the effect of our process in the positive responses we receive from the inmates on our feed back cards. Their comments truly touch our hearts. Look for our “Inmate Voices” posts to hear what they say in their own words.

pile of Dismas Ministry mail

One weeks worth of Dismas Ministry requests ready to be sent out!