Help Provide Catholic Resources and Catechisms for Individuals Who Are Incarcerated This Lent

Thank you.

We want those to be the first words you read.

We know how frequently requests arrive in the mail and how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by them. At Dismas Ministry, we never want to be just another request asking for something. Instead, we hope this moment is an opportunity to pause, reflect on the meaning of Lent, and remember the lives of our brothers and sisters behind bars.

Lent invites us not just to give something up, but to give something that helps us grow deeper in faith and purpose.

Whether you give up chocolate, set aside your morning coffee, or turn that sacrifice into time spent in prayer, these forty days invite us to draw closer to Christ and to lift up those who need our prayers most, especially those forgotten in prison.

At Dismas Ministry, we walk alongside individuals who are incarcerated. We lift them up through prayer, we fast from indifference, and we provide opportunities for them to encounter God’s love in real and tangible ways through the resources and programs we send to correctional facilities across the country.

As we begin this sacred season, we reflect on the three spiritual practices that guide us during Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Pray

Join our Union of Prayer and lift up our brothers and sisters behind bars who often feel unseen or forgotten.

Your prayers matter. They remind individuals who are incarcerated that they are not alone and that God is always present, even in the most difficult places.

Fast

Consider fasting from indifference and from forgetting those who are incarcerated.

Instead, choose awareness. Choose compassion. Let your fast reflect Jesus’ words:

“I was in prison and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:36

Give

Because of the generosity of supporters like you, Dismas Ministry serves thousands of individuals who are incarcerated with spiritual resources that help them grow in their Catholic faith.

If you are already a supporter, especially if you are part of our Mercy Circle Monthly Giving Club, please accept our sincere gratitude. Your steady commitment allows this ministry to continue.

If you would like to join Mercy Circle, simply select monthly giving when making your donation.

A Special Lenten Need: Catechisms

This Lent we are especially focused on meeting the growing demand for the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Requests are arriving faster than we can fulfill them, and our current supply is running low.

For individuals who are incarcerated, these books are often a lifeline. Many are preparing to enter the Church or seeking a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith. When paired with our Faith Study, A Reason for Hope, the Catechism provides guidance, formation, and hope. These resources are often used in OCIA formation classes inside correctional facilities.

Your Lenten almsgiving can help provide these essential resources.

Your Gift Makes an Immediate Impact

$20 provides two Catechism books for two prisoners

$40 equips two people with a faith study course and Catechism book

$80 supports four people with a faith study course and Catechism book

If giving is possible for you during this Lenten season, thank you. If it is not, please know that your prayers are deeply valued.

As we prepare our hearts for Easter and the promise of new life, may we remember those seeking transformation in some of the most forgotten places.

Thank you for journeying with us and for helping us continue this essential work of mercy.