Ministry Profile

The Dismas-Magdalene Project, Inc.

  The Dismas-Magdalene
Project, Inc.
   Changing the Hearts, Minds and Lives of Incarcerated Catholics

Ministry Profile

TDCJ Approval

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice includes The Brothers of St. Dismas and Sisters of St. Mary Magdalene as part of its Life Changes Academy, Level V program. In a letter dated May 21, 2002, The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) endorsed The Brothers of St. Dismas and The Sisters of St. Mary Magdalene. Two TDCJ Chaplain Directors, Deacon Richard Lopez and Bill Pierce, have affirmed their approval and endorsement by stating:

"The TDCJ Chaplaincy is very proud of these new programs..."

Board of Directors

New Catholic lay organization is founded to care for the spiritual and emotional needs of incarcerated men and women, in order to stop the recidivism rate and devastating effects of families within their Catholic community. Board Members include:

Deacon Robert Leicht, Jr.: Founder and Chairman of the Board for The Dismas-Magdalene Project, Inc. and is an active deacon at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, in Manvel, TX. At the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, TX, Deacon Bob is the TDCJ Chaplain.
Deacon Dennis Hayes: Executive of Men's & Women's Retreats
Patty Hayes: Team Coordinator
Kathy Ward: Executive of Women; Monitor of the SMM Branch at the Co-Cathedral in Houston, TX

Michael Latino: A volunteer Chaplain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Executive of Membership

Eveline Nachtengaele: A volunteer Chaplain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Executive Land Project and music ministry to the Texas incarcerated. Click HERE to be linked to her website

Corporate Sponsors

Business partners are crucial to the success of The Dismas-Magdalene Project and their generous guidance, influence and contributions are here recognized for going above and beyond the call of "brotherly love".

Bob Corrigan, Attorney at Law with Fulbright & Jaworski: We wish to acknowledge and extend our heartfelt gratitude for the stewardship service of both time and talent from Attorney Bob Corrigan and his senior assistant, Ms. Sherry Popowski. Their efforts have guided us to the incorporation of The Dismas-Magdalene Project, Inc. and the continued assistance for our non-profit status. We wish to commend the International Firm of Fulbright & Jaworski for their support and guidance of this project from its humble beginnings.
Aurora Leicht, Project RIO Specialist with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: We wish to extend special recognition to Aurora Leicht, now employed with TDCJ as a Law Library Supervisor, she is also experienced as a TDCJ Project RIO Specialist. This is an arm of the Texas under the direction of the Windham School District of the State of Texas. This Project is designed specifically for helping incarcerated men and women find employment and transition from prison life to the free-world. Aurora is volunteering her expertise for this Catholic initiative to touch the lives of the Brothers and Sisters.
Rev. James Gaunt, CSB, Basilian Congregation: One of Spiritual Directors for The Dismas-Magdalene, Project, Inc. who helped accommodate the generous 22-acre donation of land. In October 2006, a great miracle took place when Father Gaunt gave the rest of the Basilian's land consisting of seven acres to the Dismas-Magdalene Project.
The Knights of Columbus, Council 6403 in Manvel, TX: We proudly thank Council 6403 for generously volunteering man-power and other resources to assist in clearing and maintaining our 22-acres of land.
The Catholic Scanlan Foundation of Houston, TX.

Diocesan Approval

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, recognizing the spiritual needs of God's least, offers full recognition to the ongoing efforts of this simple organization that is determined to change the lives of despairing Catholics on the wrong side of the law.

+Pope John Paul II: In an address to leaders of all evangelized Catholic laity, our Holy Father - Pope John Paul II stated: "Holiness has at its core the contemplation of the Lord Jesus, and all our Millennium planning must seek to lead people to a deeper awareness of the One who is the only Savior of the world. This requires mature and faithful prayer. Let your communities and movements become genuine 'schools' of prayer where the meeting with Jesus is expressed not just in imploring help, but also in praise, thanksgiving, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly 'falls in love'. Put out into the deep of prayer in order to put out into the deep of mission." Joannes Paulus II, April 2001. (Novo Millennio Incunte, 33)

In Redemptoris Misso, Pope John Paul wrote, "As the Third Millennium of the Redemption draws near, God is preparing a great Springtime for Christian (Catholic) growth, and we can already see the first signs." (86)

U.S. Bishop's Pastoral Letter

The U.S. Bishop's Post-Vatican II pastoral letter on Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration, a Catholic perspective on crime and violence, speaks clearly about the need for our gifted Catholic laity and ordained deacons. We are all called to the challenge as in the Gospel of St. Matthew, "...for I was in prison and you visited me".

+Daniel Cardinal Dinardo

Project Board Members visited his office to report the phenominal growth and welcoming acceptance of our Texas Catholic Incarcerated. Cardinal was pleased and gave his blessing to the entire Dis/Mag Project and its members.

+Rev. Ron Cloutier
This project has been affirmed by the Director of the Diocesan Correctional Ministries, Fr. Ron Cloutier, with his statement: "Visiting those in prison with words of God's hope, and providing free-world assistance, is no longer an optional ministry in the Catholic Church."

+Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza (Retired)
This call for a new Springtime of Catholic Evangelization has been carried out throughout the Church, especially here in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese from our Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza (retired), Archbishop of the Galveston-Houston Diocese, and former USCCB President through his approval and ecclesiastical permission to pursue this endeavor.
In his letter to Deacon Robert Leicht, Jr., Archbishop Fiorenza states the following about the Catholic fraternity/sorority initiatives: "This is good work, offering great hope to our incarcerated Catholics!"