Criminal Justice Ministry
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Services
The ministry provides pastoral and sacramental ministry to the incarcerated Catholic populations of jails and prisons in the Diocese of Beaumont. It assists victims and ex-offenders and their families, and promotes criminal justice issues that are consistent with Catholic teaching.
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Contact Us
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Sr. Misty Garriga, C.D.P.mgarrigadioceseofbmt.orgDirector
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Leigh Smithlsmithdioceseofbmt.orgAdministrative Assistant
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St. Maximillian Kolbe Prison Retreats
One prison program in the Diocese of Beaumont is the St. Kolbe Prison Retreats. What is a St. Kolbe Retreat? St. Kolbe retreats began in the Diocese of Beaumont in 2012 as Prison ACTS retreats, and quickly spread throughout the diocese to multiple State and Federal Correctional Facilities. In 2015 the parish format for ACTS was modified and tailored to meet the different environment which is a prison, and St. Kolbe Retreats were the result. These retreats occur in male and female prisons.
St. Kolbe retreats present the love of Christ and, like ACTS, have proven to be a Holy Spirit driven force for good in the very austere and challenging world in which inmates live. This encounter with our Lord is at its very core Evangelization, which opens doors for further catechesis, and faith formation.
If you are an ACTS Veteran, and would like to assist the St. Kolbe Team with an upcoming retreat, or if you would like to serve on a team, ask a St. Kolbe member about their experiences, or you can reach out to this office for more information.
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If you're interested in becoming part of the St. Kolbe Prison Retreat Team please fill out the information form by clicking on the following link.
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County Facilities Location Catholic Ministry By Chambers County Jail Anahuac Hardin County Jail Kountze Jasper County Jail Jasper Jefferson County Correctional U.S. 69 Beaumont Jefferson County Jail Beaumont (Downtown) Liberty County Jail Liberty Newton County Correctional Newton Orange County Jail Orange Polk County Jail Livingston State Jails & Treatment Centers Location Catholic Ministry By Bell Cleveland Gist State Jail U.S. 69 Beaumont Rev. Polycarp Otieno F.M.H, Dan Ford Goodman Transfer Facility Jasper Rev. Ron Foshage, M.S. Henley SAFPF Dayton LeBlanc SAFPF U.S. 69 Beaumont Fr. Joseph Ibiwoge, MSP, Fr. Michael Eninlejie, MSP, Deacon Bill Gier,
Deacon Randy Cashiola, Michael DeRouenPlane State Jail Dayton Fr. Joseph Kattakkara State Prisons Location Catholic Ministry By Gib Lewis Unit Woodville Peter Peltier, Rev. Joseph Sigur,
Rev. Ron Foshage, MSHightower Unit Dayton Fr. Joseph Kattakkara, Deacon David Workman, Deacon Fred Lemond,
Dan Koppersmith, Jerry MortusStiles Unit U.S. 69 Beaumont Deacon Stephen Sellers Polunsky Unit Livingston Deacon Stephen Sellers, Jim Banks, Fr. Paul Kahan, Fr. Donald Eruaga Federal Correctional Facilities Location Catholic Ministry By FCI Low Security Beaumont Fr. Joseph Sigur, Deacon Ricci Pampolina FCI Medium Security Beaumont Fr. Joseph Sigur Federal Work Camp Beaumont Fr. Joseph Sigur, Deacon Ricci Pampolina United States Penitentiary Beaumont Fr. Joseph Sigur Private Federal Correctional Facilities Location Catholic Ministry By IAH Immigration Detention Facility Livingston Rev. Tarsisius Puling, MS
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- St. Kolbe Retreat Documents for Men
- St. Kolbe Retreat Documents for Women
- Criminal Justice Website Links and Resources
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Click on the link below and enter your password in order to download St. Kolbe Retreat for Men Recources.
Kolbe retreat for men documents
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Click on the link below and enter your password in order to download St. Kolbe Retreat for Women Recources.
Kolbe retreat for women documents
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Death Row Resources
Catholic Mobilizing Network https://catholicsmobilizing.org/
Execution Watch https://executionwatch.org/
Death Penalty Information Site https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/
Texas Execution Information Center http://www.txexecutions.org/
Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty https://tcadp.org/
Texas Death Penalty Facts from Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
https://tcadp.org/get-informed/texas-death-penalty-facts/Journey of Hope: From Violence to Healing https://www.journeyofhope.org/
St. Maximilian Kolbe Prayer Service here
Life Matters: A Catholic Response to the Death Penalty Read here
Podcast: LISTEN: Chris Castillo, who is the son of a murder victim, discusses the death penalty, healing, and forgiveness on the latest episode of the Gin & Justice Podcast.
Webinar: A Catholic Encounter with Restorative Justice watch here
Re-Entry Resources and Programs for Ex-Offenders in Texas
Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Section 8 vouchers to certain qualified individuals seeking assistance with housing. Some ex-offenders will qualify for this program. Ex-offenders who are restricted from seeking HUD assistance include those convicted of violent crimes or crimes involving the production of illegal drugs. Individuals seeking to work with HUD to obtain housing will need to contact HUD for further information.
Front Steps – This program provides emergency as well as permanent housing assistance.
Second Chance Apartments Apartment rentals that will approve you with a non-violent background, felony, or misdemeanor in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas areas.
Ex-offenders looking for housing may find help at Apt Find Felons of TX. This is a real estate website run by a real estate agent who assists ex-offenders with locating suitable accommodations after their release. There are qualifications listed on the home page allowing ex-offenders to quickly determine whether or not they may be able to find housing through this resource.
Jobs
Goodwill Industries has a good program for ex-offenders who have been referred by The Texas Rehabilitation Commission or the Texas Workforce Commission. Goodwill can provide training in job attainment skills such as preparing a resume, learning how to handle a personal interview and obtaining basic computer skills. They also have a program to train individuals to work at Jiffy Lube. Although the contact information is for the Houston Goodwill, there are Goodwill programs located all across the state of Texas.
The 2nd Chances 4 Felons website lists a lot of resources for ex-offenders seeking gainful employment. There is a link on the website that lists potential employers in Texas, along with contact information, who are willing to employ ex-offenders. The website is a little difficult to navigate; the best way to reach the job list is to click on the ‘links-and-resources’ tab at the top and then scroll down the page until the various states are listed. Click on Texas to be directed to the Texas-specific job opportunities.
Spirit Key – A non-profit 501c3 organization which serves as a transitional work facility for men in Houston, Texas.
Austin MOVE Forward – This is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides services to ex-offenders. They focus on job readiness for men and women who were previously incarcerated.
Workforce Solutions – Workforce Solutions Capital Area helps people in Central Texas get back into the workforce. It is not specifically for ex-offenders, but they are eligible for that programs.
Faith Based Resources
Volunteers of America – VOA of Texas provides re-entry services in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Exodus Ministries – A faith based program that helps formerly incarcerated mothers and their children.
Sharing Hope – A faith-based ministry that helps women overcome their past.
Bridges to Life – This is a non-profit 501c3 that is based in Houston, TX. Their mission is to connect communities to prisons in an effort to reduce the rate of recidivism, especially with ex-offenders who have committed violent crimes.
Dream Center – This is a faith based organization that has a few programs that help ex-offenders. One of them is Freedom House, which is a 12 month intensive program for people recently released from jail or prison.
His Father’s Heart Ministries – A 501c3 non-profit organization based in Houston, TX. They are dedicated to breaking the cycle of recidivism.
Paradise Living – An organization that works with ex-offenders who have mental health issues. They work to transform the ex-offenders life through spirtual mentoring, resources, and leadership.
General Re-Entry Resources
Texas ReEntry Programs https://www.jobsforfelonshub.com/programs/texas-reentry-programs/
Texas State Law Library https://guides.sll.texas.gov/reentry-resources/general-information
Re-Entry Resource Guide for every county in Texas https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/documents/rid/RID_Reentry_Resource_Guide.pdf
Texas ReEntry Services is dedicated to help ex-offenders get back on their feet. They work with a variety of housing organizations to help ex-offenders obtain temporary housing for up to two years. This organization has a variety of services available to help ex-offenders obtain employment, including a 12-hour training program designed to address issues that arise when seeking employment. Upon completion of the course an individual will obtain assistance with preparing a resume and will also provide job referrals.
Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative – TORI provides a lot of different services to returning citizens, such as housing, employment, healthcare, and educational programs.
TIFA – Texas Inmate Families Association is a non-profit 501c3 organization. Their goal is to break the cycle of recidivism through support, advocacy, and education.
Tarrant County Reentry Coalition – Established in 2013, this coalition has assisted returning citizens with reentry. They offer a wide range of programs and services.
The Lionheart Foundation Reentry Programs by state
For Volunteers:
The Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC) promotes ministry to all people affected by incarceration. Our goal is to recruit, train, support and empower those called to this ministry. It is the central hub for all Catholic jail, prison, and detention ministry efforts in the United States.
