The Society of St. John DeMatha, offers the following four courses at Jester 3. Eligibility will be for those within 6 months of parole or release subject to class size restrictions:
Substance Use
The Substance Use Journal helps participants evaluate their substance use and the consequences of using and develop a plan to help them maintain their recovery.
Life Skills
This Journal offers a jump-start for participants to start thinking about the life areas of education, finances, employment and physical health. Practical tips are offered on each topic and participants are encouraged to develop long-term goals.
Social Values
This Journal focuses on addressing risks related to antisocial values. Participants identify their values, where they came from and the impact on themselves and others. The development of positive life values and roadblocks to incorporating healthy values are explored.
Peer Relations
This Journal focuses on addressing risks related to criminal peers. Participants consider their past and present peer relationships, learn the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, practice handling social peer pressure and learn how to build a positive support network.
Education Program specifics and outcome:
Each course will take 4 weeks and will repeat every 17 weeks/4 months.
Each class will be limited to 10-12 students.
Upon graduation of the 4-week course, a Certificate will be issued to the participant.Those who successfully complete the 4 courses will be offered assistance by The Society of St. John DeMatha in finding housing in Harris County.
We provide support of their parole requests by preparing a recomendation letter to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice presenting the classes they have completed and their attendance of our RCIA program.
For those who are sex offenders or require monitors we will assist them to the best of our ability in finding other housing preferably in a faith based facility.
Sacrament Meetings
We are here to assist those offenders who are in need of Spiritual awakening and seek redemption while they are incarcerated. SSJD is here to help them by offering spiritual guidance, direction, and conversion to the Catholic Faith. Inside the prison walls, we offer the below:
Weekly Mass Services
Administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Administer the Sacrament of Baptism
Administer the Sacrament of Confirmation
Provide registration to the RCIA Program
Currently at Jester 3, the attendance to our Sacrament Meetings is 30-35 participants which has been consistent since the ease of lockdowns due to Covid.