Cardinal Dolan Visits and Blesses Ignacio House
On December 15, 2021, Thrive For Life had the incredible honor of welcoming Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, to our Ignacio House of Studies. The Cardinal’s office had reached out to Fr. Zach earlier this year to setup a visit after learning of the hard work our resident scholars have put into tenaciously working to obtain an education while navigating the challenging path of reentry beyond the walls.
Cardinal Dolan celebrated Mass with resident scholars and members of the Thrive For Life community and took time to meet and connect with each of them. Reflecting on his visit, His Eminence insisted that serving our brothers and sisters behind the walls is “an essential ministry.” “This is where Jesus would be,” he explained. In an opinion column published in Fox News on New Years, Cardinal Dolan went on:
“When these men get out of prison, they really have no place to go. Often alienated from family and past friends, the temptation was to go back to the company or gangs that led to their lock-up. That’s where Ignacio House comes in, as these men now belong as members of this community. After Mass, I listened to what they most relished in their ‘halfway house.’ Yes, the fraternity; the opportunity for ongoing counseling and continued fidelity to their recovery programs; the duties they shared in the house; and the opportunity for education, job training, and even a college degree.”
Afterwards, the Cardinal blessed the grounds at Ignacio House and was presented a framed photograph of the community by our resident scholars. The next day, he invited members of Ignacio House to join him for Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, at which Fr. Zach concelebrated.
We are incredibly grateful for His Eminence's visit to our community that ambitiously strives to transform lives behind and beyond the prison walls. We thank him for his care for our brothers and sisters and ask for his continued prayers and support as we endeavor to fulfill our mission.
To read more about the Cardinal’s visit, please check out media coverage of the event linked below!
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/christmas-jesus-prison-ministry-cardinal-dolan.amp
https://digital.cny.org/Catholic-New-York-12302021-e-Edition/8/
