We received a letter from Henry G. Covert introducing his book, “Ministry to the Incarcerated,” as a guide to understanding the prison environment and ministry to inmates.

About the Book

In Ministry to the Incarcerated, Dr. Covert uses his experiences as both police officer and retired state prison chaplain to examine the problems of the incarcerated, specifically the stressors which are obstacles to a prisoner’s personal and spiritual development. In his analysis he provides both secular and biblical themes that promote penal reform and offender rehabilitation.

Ministry to the Incarcerated also provides instructional outlines for staff and volunteers, as well as Dr. Covert’s experience being the chaplain for Pennsylvania’s first execution in 33 years.

About Henry G. Covert

Dr. Henry G. Covert is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ. After a tour of duty in the military, he worked in law enforcement for twenty years as both a patrol sergeant and county detective. Toward the end of that career he began his studies for the ministry. He has pastored several parishes, worked as a counselor in therapeutic communities, was a state prison chaplain, and acquired adjunct faculty status at the Pennsylvania State University. Reverend Covert was the chaplain for Pennsylvania’s first execution in thirty-three years. He holds several academic degrees in the Scriptures and theology, including a doctorate from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He is the author of six books: Ministry to the Incarcerated, Discovering the Parables: An Inspirational Guide for Everyday Life, Spiritual Reflections: A Journey through the Scriptures, Christian Beliefs and Prayers, The Crucifixion of Jesus, and The True Church of Jesus Christ.

This book is for everyone who has an interest in law enforcement, the penal system, and rehabilitation and ministry in the prison system.

Find Ministry to the Incarcerated on Amazon

Can you find God behind bars?

Today 93,395 people are in prison in the UK. With time to reflect on their actions, many of them turn to religion for guidance and solace. But what does faith do for those inmates? This week 4thought.tv visits Barlinnie Prison, Scotland’s largest jail to ask, ‘Can you find God behind bars?’

Click here to view the vidoes – personal stories of inmates finding faith in prison>

Director Ron Zeilinger was interviewed for the article: Freedom behind bars, Inmates can grow spiritually even while in jail, thanks to dedicated prison ministry volunteers. – By Brian Fraga – OSV Newsweekly, 11/3/2013.

Here is the excerpt of Ron’s part in the article:

Still, even if quietly, thousands of Catholic inmates hunger for spiritual nourishment. Many inmates often write to the Milwaukee, Wis., offices of Dismas Ministry, which provides Bibles and faith study materials, including rosaries and prayer books, in English and Spanish, to inmates across the country.

“For them, in many cases, they don’t have anybody they can reach out to,” said Ron Zeilinger, who is director of Dismas Ministry. “So when they get something like a Bible and prayer book, it’s gold in their hands. It makes quite an impression. On our feedback forms, we get nice responses and spontaneously written letters on things going on in their spiritual lives.

“It’s an honor and a grace to meet them at that level,” said Zeilinger, who also visits prisons to participate in prayer services and restorative justice programs.

“It’s always a touching and profound experience when you meet the men and women, shake their hand, look them in the eye and see their face,” Zeilinger said. “It puts a human face on them. The first impression is that these people are just ordinary people. Maybe they’ve done some stupid or foolish things, but it really is a humbling and human thing to be with them.

“You don’t feel threatened, or ill at ease,” Zeilinger added. “They’re very grateful to have you there. They usually give you a warm reception. They’re grateful that someone would come and spend some time with them.”

Click here to read the full article>

The National Council of SVdP is now in the process of looking for the National Program Coordinator for the National Ex-Offender Re-Entry Program funded by the CCHD grant. We would like your help in this hiring process. You can assist in this effort in two ways:

1. You can help look for candidates for the position. Review the attached job description and provide it to anyone who you believe would be a candidate. The job description has changed from the one you viewed in the past. We are looking for a contracted consultant – not a staff person. Also, as you will see at the top of page two, the consultant is not required to live in or be officed in the St. Louis area, although regularly scheduled meetings at the National Council Office are a requirement.

2. The solicitation period ends October 31. Once we have selected who we feel are the primary candidates, we will send you copies of their resumes and ask you to rank them for consideration.

This will greatly aid us in the process. We look forward to working with you in the administration of this grant and the implementation of the National Ex-Offender Re-Entry Program.

Click here for the Job Description>

Because of Pope Francis’ call,
we’d like to share a special event with you:

Attend the Hearts United 2013 Eucharistic Rosary Rally For Peace and the Family In Milwaukee on September 7 at 12:30 pm

For advance tickets click here // tickets also available at the door

Urgent Worldwide Gatherings for Peace!
September 7, 2013

May we all respond to the Holy Father’s Plea!

Excerpts of Angelus Message from Pope Francis to the world Sept 1. 2013 at St. Peter’s Square in Rome:

I make a forceful and urgent call to the entire Catholic Church, and also to every Christian of other confessions, as well as to followers of every religion and to those brothers and sisters who do not believe: peace is a good which overcomes every barrier, because it belongs all of humanity!………

……I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.

On the 7th of September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.

Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

God Bless,
Men of Christ Leadership Team