“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Psalm 119:105

Last month we were able to send out free of charge 83 Bread of Life Catholic Bible Studies and 89 bibles.  The cost to us was $2,028.00 to ship these books. With your prayers and financial help we hope to send more next month. Your help is very much appreciated.

Testimony

Dear St. Dismas family, I first wrote to you, back in the summer of 2012 as I was beginning a two-year sentence for meth-induced assault and robbery, and covered head-to-toe in itchy, raw, stress-induced eczema. My celly had a Catholic bible he’d gotten from St. Dismas Guild and your address was stamped inside, so I wrote to you. You sent me the Catholic Bible, study course and most of all, hope. My celly and I began reading and praying together and when I got transferred I looked up the Catholic chaplain there. There I made my first good confession in fifteen years, put on a Brown Scapular, started praying the Rosary every day and attending Mass regularly. I haven’t looked back since, except to be grateful!

I looked forward to the mailbag every late afternoon for those two years. I was always on the lookout for your newsletters. On the morning our Holy Father Pope Francis was elected – morning in California, anyway — I “happened” to be in the prison chapel with some of the Catholic brothers. There are no coincidences with God!! Our chaplain pulled out a television, and we were able to watch and pray with our new pontiff right there on the yard in real time. As we sat there in our polyester prison-issues, we were all overwhelmed as he asked us to pray for him! As Pope Francis traced the Sign of the Cross over the world in blessing for the first time from the balcony at St. Peter’s via that television I really, honestly felt warm grace pour through my body! At the time, I remembered to ask the Holy Spirit for my plenary indulgence for a pontiff’s first blessing! I tingled from head to toe – and I don’t really consider myself a charismatic, either. Our Lady spoils me!

When I was released I was granted my request to enter a fifteen month post-prison, residential program, honing my work skills as their office coordinator. One of my greatest blessings was being able to answer the prison mail from inmates seeking help from the program. I always tried to enclose a holy card of the Holy Face of Jesus with every letter I answered. I remembered how much I loved receiving mail when I was on the yard myself, so being able to “visit the prison” in this way was a double blessing to me! Following my graduation from this program I got a job at a local factory and moved into the local shelter to save every penny so I could return home to N.Y. as soon as I discharged my parole. That happened in time for this Christmas! I now work at a place that helps addicts, prisoners, and others in crisis. Also, I begin classes soon to finish my undergraduate studies. And most importantly, as I sit typing you this letter here at work, Jesus is just across the hall in the rehab’s chapel in the Blessed Sacrament! God is so good!

Jesus and Mary have brought me all the way from that stinky cell in reception nearly four years ago, where I first wrote to you and Deacon Ken. You both have a very special place in my heart for the part you have played in my journey back home to the Church. In fact, we still play a part in each other’s lives, because I regularly pray for you – and I ask Deacon Ken often for his prayers, too! I didn’t get a chance to meet him in this life, but something tells me that he knows who I am already. Again, please know that I pray for you and everyone at the Guild often! Love in Jesus and Mary, CM

CM, thank you for such a powerful letter. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” It is your response to the bible, bible study and catechism that has put that hope in you. Praying with your celly and sharing what the Holy Spirit teaches you will increase your faith. “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) You were truly blessed to be able to watch the Pope on the TV and be blessed by him. You have a heart for prisoners because you know what they are going through. Stress causes a tremendous amount of physical sicknesses like you said you had stress-induced eczema. That must have been awful. Praise God you are doing so well now. God’s Word and coming to know Jesus personally through the Word reduces a tremendous amount of stress. The Holy Spirit is leading and guiding you keep up the responding. Thank you for your prayers and I know Deacon Ken is interceding for all of us.

DOING TIME WITH JESUS

To Whom it May Concern, Hello, my name is KH, I’m 23 years old and I’m studying to become Catholic. I was raised in an anti-church family, and though it is very cliché, I didn’t find God until I was in the county jail. Overtime I lost my faith, but tried to restore it after coming to prison. I went to chapel as much as I could and spread the name Jesus to those who would listen, but I never really loved God like I should. I was never really happy with my choice of faith.

Once again the faith I had in Our Lord and Savior faded away and I almost chose the mythical gods the Vikings worshiped instead of Jesus. This may sound weird, but one day I was watching a movie dealing with demonic possession and the Catholic Church and something kept saying, “Get on the call-out list for Tuesday Mass” (which is when our chapel does mass.) I kept hearing this over and over again. I don’t know if it was my interest in demonology or exorcisms or if it was the Holy Spirit talking to me at a time when I just so happened to be watching a film about the church, but I listened. I started going to Mass and reading about Catholicism and I must say that I love it. The history and scriptural background of this religion astonish me. This is why I want to convert from non-denominational to Catholic.

The reason I write to you is not only to share my story but also because I was told you could provide learning tools that are essential to the Faith. I have a study Catholic Bible, a Rosary and a prayer book, but I would love to have a Catechism. If you could provide me with a copy as well as put me on the newsletter list, I would be tremendously grateful. I’d hate to ask for more, but I was also hoping that you could provide me with someone to write to because there aren’t many Catholics on this prison compound. It would be nice to have someone to write about my concerns and who can answer questions. I hope that’s not too much to ask. Thank you for your time and God bless. With love, KH

We sent your letter to one of our mentors and sent you a catechism. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people perish for want of knowledge!” Most people do not know the history or what the church teaches and, like you, once they find out what it is all about they are blessed and find a tremendous peace in finding their roots. Satan is a liar and draws people away from the truth. When you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and you get the knowledge of your faith you find the peace that passes all understanding. In speaking about Satan, Jesus says in John 8:44, “When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” Then Jesus goes on to say, “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.”

Dear St. Dismas Guild, Hello and God bless you. I have been receiving your newsletter for some time now and every month I still look forward to its encouraging messages. Reading about the strength that others received from the Lord strengthens me as well. I ask that you please pray for me and my family. I haven’t heard from them in a while and just ask that you pray that they are well and that they come to Christ. I would also like to please be assigned a mentor, someone I can talk to about my struggles and goals, any questions, and can hold me accountable for my actions. Thank you for everything. I enjoy your newsletter and greatly look forward to continuing to receive them. Your brother in Christ. FMcM

We are praying for you and all the inmates and their families. Prayer is what will change things. 1 Thess. 5:17-18 says, “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Thank God for what He is going to do in your family. He says ask and you will receive and He wills none to be lost. Believe Him and stand on His promises. God bless you.

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1. DISMAS GUILD’S MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW GOD OUR FATHER THROUGH HIS SON JESUS BY THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTAINED IN GOD’S WORD, HOLY SCRIPTURE. IT’S MISSION IS PRIMARILY TO MINISTER TO PRISONS, FAMILIES, AND PROLIFE ADVOCACY.

Family Ministry

PRAYING AS A FAMILY In this hectic world, I often find myself rushed to get everything done. As a wife, mother of a three year old, caregiver for elderly parents and working woman, I am always trying to stay one step ahead. One step ahead of laundry, meals, doctor appointments, and play dates just to name a few. God has blessed me in so many ways, yet I sometimes forget to give thanks and pray as a family. At the beginning of each meal we give thanks. When we are together, sometimes we forget and Grandpa has already finished his soup or our three year old has a mouthful, but we stop and say grace together. Whether in a restaurant or at home, this is an easy way for us to pray as a family and to witness to our love for Christ. Often, during grace, someone at the table asks us to pray for something or someone. Just the other day, my daughter asked us to pray for a neighbor boy that got hurt in an accident. This opened up a wonderful dialog about accidents and why they happen. A topic that may not have come about…except through the Holy Spirit. When we can’t be together, each of us prays before our meal knowing that the other family members are giving thanks at the same time.

“Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:19)

 

Abortion and The Year of Mercy

“Then Jesus stood up and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Now Go and sin no more.” ~ John 8: 10-11

This year, Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee year, and is calling it, “The Year of Mercy.” It focuses on offering special indulgences to those who seek its graces. There are many groups of people that he wishes to address and one of these groups is to the men and women who have participated in the act of abortion.

The pope wants to extend forgiveness and absolution to those who are truly sorry. There are many who now realize what they had done was wrong, but don’t know what to do with this guilt and shame.

So, if you haven’t already, please prayerful consider taking advantage of this beautiful grace and turn to the Lord in the Sacrament of Confession. Ask for absolution of this sin of abortion and be free of the burdens it brings.

Below is a section of Pope Francis’ Jubilee Letter concerning Abortion and Year of Mercy. May it bring you peace and consolation that can free your soul.

           “…I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope. The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father.

            For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. May priests fulfill this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence.”  – Pope Francis, Sept. 1, 2015

Help for post-abortive women and men can be found at; http://www.rachelsvineyard.org

 

In Jesus’ love,

St. Dismas Staff

 

 

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105

Last month we were able to send out free of charge 103 Bread  of Life Catholic Bible Studies.  The cost to us is $18 each book we ship. With your prayers and financial help we hope to send out more next month.

Testimony

Dear St. Dismas Guild, I have been receiving your monthly newsletters now since 2008, and throughout the years that have passed I’d say that I was mostly “spiritually lost.”  I was not Catholic at any time in my life. I am 26 years old and have been incarcerated since I was 17 on a sentence for home invasion/burglary. As I mentioned, I have been lost. Over the years I’ve been in a vicious jail gang and have gotten into all kinds of trouble, then phased out of that into religion. Well sort of.  First I liked the idea of being a Christian. That didn’t last long and before I knew it I was back in my old ways gang banging and sinning. Then, more recently, I began to study Islam. That didn’t last either! Soon I was plotting and scheming again.

Out of the blue I received a letter from one of my Catholic school teachers and he began corresponding regularly, talking about all kinds of things – family and life, my future, but most importantly, religion. I managed to find myself in the hole – again, for something foolish and here I’ve been for the last eight months with nothing to do but think. My teacher has continued to stay in touch for moral support and spiritual guidance. Recently I received your January newsletter. As I was reading the testimonies given I couldn’t explain why, but tears began to build up in my eyes. At first I tried to hold them back, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t and the urge to cry just became even more intense. I finally just let go and wept and found myself praying to the Lord. And inside of me I knew this was right. I could feel that it was right in every part of my being. I have from that day decided to give myself to Jesus, to convert, and take whatever steps necessary. I am ready to change my life and live properly. I am eager to read and learn anything you may have for me. If possible, could you provide me with a Catholic bible and bible study course? It would truly mean a lot to me. I want to thank you for your newsletters and all that you do! Without you I’m not sure that I’d be where I am today, so thank you! May the Blessings of Christ, Our Lord, be bestowed upon you!  God bless always, MF

MF, what a wonderful teacher you must have had to support you in your time of need. Sharing with you family and life, your future, and like you said most importantly religion must bring you comfort. It sounds like he prepared the way for you to receive the love of Jesus when you were reading one of the testimonies from the newsletter. “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 1:6) It says in Revelations 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” Thank you for sharing your testimony.

Doing Time With Jesus

Dear St. Dismas Guild, I have received your newsletter for several years now, and in addition the Catholic Bible and several other publications. A simple thanks is not enough to show my gratitude, so I give it up to Our Father.  My message today is to state that after serving 6-1/2+ years for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter that I will parole this month. I was the driver in a single car accident on a rural road, a roll-over occurred, and I caused the death of my older brother for which I have accepted my responsibility for the laws I broke. That stated, I was left with much unresolved sorrow, remorse and guilt. Today, while the sorrow has not totally subsided, I live more peacefully in the faith God gives us all for the future. A good part of my recovery and rehabilitation comes from the testimonies I read from other inmates through your newsletter.  Thanks Be to God! My spiritual healing will continue for all my life on earth as I cannot fix the dead, but only through the One, God our Father, who overcame the sting of death. Lord Have Mercy. As much as I have gained spiritually from your newsletters, please cancel my delivery, as I am being paroled this month, so to allow it to reach another inmate. God bless you all, AL

AL, The pain you suffered for causing your brothers death must be tremendous. Your testimony has brought me to repentance. Thank you for that as you may have saved someone else’s life. It made me look at how I drive. I am always in a hurry and I speed all the time and sometimes even look at my phone if someone calls. I could be sitting where you are. I could kill someone. The Holy Spirit convicted me as I was reading your testimony and I asked God to forgive me for breaking the law and went to confession. Its been almost two weeks since I read your letter and I have not gone over the speed limit or used my phone since then. That’s what is called repentance, turning away from the sin and turning to God (obeying His Word) Thank you so much for sharing. The scripture that comes to mind is Romans 13:1-2, “Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore; whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.” The traffic laws are there for our benefit and to keep us safe. God bless you.

Family Ministry

Dear St. Dismas Guild, My name is S…., and I have six children. In 2012 I watched as Satan tore my family and our life completely apart. It started with the death of the children’s father, then my addition to drugs and alcohol. I eventually had to give up my children and then I ended up in jail and then prison. Little did I know prison was the best thing that God ever did for me. Prison saved my life. Prison is where my miracle begins. Little by little I have watched and felt God working with me, staying beside me through good times and bad, never giving up on me nor letting me give up on myself putting my life back together again.  These last four months I have been fighting for my parental rights for two of my six children. I am in the facilities’ law library every day making sure I know my rights. I am also in my Bible every day making sure I am giving to God because He does my worrying for me. He knows my heart’s desire. God has shown me that through Him my life can be amazing even in my trials. I am now more free that I’m in prison than I have ever been. I still have my parental rights and I am going in front of the parole board in February because the Lord saw fit to allow it. I will be a better mother now that I have experienced this. Praise be to God. My faith will never waiver in good time and in bad and I will turn to my Father in Heaven.  The friend who gave me this address said I may be able to get a bible study and a Catholic study Bible from you. I would greatly appreciate it if possible.  Thank you for your time.  God bless, SY

SY, Your right, God never gives up on us. It must be very difficult for you being separated from your children. The Bread of Life Catholic Bible Study, Bible, Catechism & Pamphlets are on the way to you. These will help you in your walk with Jesus. Yes, he knows your hearts desire and it sounds like that is to be united with your children. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” We are so sorry for the death of the children’s father. Children need a godly father but most of all they need our heavenly Father. He fills all their needs. Stay close to the Lord and do not waiver.  Pray fervently. God will do what’s best for you and your children. James 5:16 says, “…The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” We will pray you will get your children back and raise them to know, love, and serve our wonderful loving Lord. 

Pro Life

I am a man who has two sisters. Our mother passed way about 5 years ago at the age of 85. We are children from the same mother, however we all have different fathers. My older sister and I knew each other from the start. She went with my mother to be raised by my single parent mother after the second marriage failed. I am the child of the second marriage and my father kept me to raise me. The third child was never seen by me or my older sister for 60 years. We didn’t even know we had a younger sister until about 12 years ago when our mother shared with us that she had gotten pregnant by a married man she worked with in 1955. Our mother had secretly given birth to that little girl and given her up for a closed adoption through Catholic Charities. She told us about her decision to be Pro-life so that we would not be shocked when we were going through her paperwork after she had passed away, and found out we had a sister somewhere in the world. She continued by telling us that she had contacted some adoption organizations and “opened up” some paperwork trails that would allow the child (who was now a woman) to find her birth mother and her siblings if she chose to do so. We were curious, but never felt like we “had” to find her. If God wanted us to meet…we figured it would certainly happen. So we just went on with our lives. That is,… we went on with our lives, until one day I was sitting in my office.  I was tired and needed a break, so I reached into my drawer at work to get the last file I need for my work, and out came the adoption file for my little sister that my mother had given to me. I could not understand what that particular file was doing in my business files. I opened the file again in curiosity. I looked at the simple paperwork with limited information which included the name of my sister given at birth, the hospital she was born in and the name of the father and the mother. So, for no particular reason, other than it was all that I had to go on….I searched the name of my sister given to her at birth; her name before her adoption.

Up came a website of a high school in Tennessee. There was a picture of a woman who is a teacher at that school. She looked very much like my mother and seemed to be in an age range that might include a birthday in 1955. I immediately called my older sister and told her what I had done. She was sitting in front of a computer, so she searched just as I had done…and up came the picture on her screen. She quickly agreed that the picture did look like her personally and also that of our mother. But then things got really wild in a hurry. My older sister said in an excited voice, “look at the website right below the one we are looking at…its an adoption search website and our sisters birth name is there”! I didn’t see what she was looking at. We quickly realized I was searching on “Bing” and she was searching on “Google”.  I opened up the adoption search website which was one dedicated to children looking for their birth parents….and there she was! In a database line item, I followed her birth name across the line to the name of the mother. It was my mother as well! The hospital was a match as was the date of birth. I knew I had just found our long lost little sister! Interestingly enough, the teacher in Tennessee is not related. I contacted the adoption search website people and filled in the online form. They called me very quickly and said “yes” you have found your sister. The adoption search group contacted my little sister that night and called me back the next morning. They were both excited and sad at the same time. They informed me that they had spoken to the daughter of my sister (our new-found niece). Our little sister was living in L.A. just 100 miles from me, however, two weeks earlier, she had been diagnosed with aggressive, non-curable brain cancer.

We all wanted to meet….and to meet soon. So my older sister flew out the next week from Florida and we drove up to meet our little sister in L.A. She was divorced but had two children, a son and a daughter…unfortunately, her son is currently in prison for drug trafficking. Her daughter is amazing. She had been adopted by a wonderful Catholic family who loved her completely and had told her from the beginning that she was “chosen” by them through adoption. Our little sister had enjoyed a great life. She was a graphics designer and in charge of that department at one of the largest universities in California. In the next two months my older sister and I visited our little sister twice before she passed away from cancer. We had been allowed to find her just in time to share with her that she had more of a family than she knew. Our little sister was soon called home to be with God the Father.

I share this story with you because our mother chose life, and that life was lived well. God in all his mercy made many miraculous things happen for us all to meet before He took her home to heaven. Only the hand of God could have made all things work together as he did (Romans 8:28). It was a gift of love given to three siblings who will be forever grateful that God loves us all so much and proves it often.

He loves you too, far more than you may realize! Never give up on God, because He will never give up on you.

In Jesus’ love,

St. Dismas Staff