In June of 2015, the St. John Neumann (SJN) chapter of SVdP started a ministry at the Delaware County Jail (DCJ).  Many of the inmates we serve are first time offenders; others are dealing with addiction issues. Both situations are vital for faith-based initiatives.  We quickly learned the depth of need that inmates required from our spiritual resources.

     Our main message to the inmates is to remember two basic things:

             1. We are all no more than saved sinners.  

             2. No one needs to be defined by their time in jail. 

     This starting point is our communion with the inmates.

Over the past two years, a group of committed members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Mary's in Delaware, OH and St. John Neumann in Sunbury OH, had a dream. As they helped men returning from jail or prison in Delaware County, they struggled finding them housing upon their release. This group of committed Vincentians (what we call members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul), would often have to call other shelters in Newark, Columbus, or Dayton to see if shelter was available. Often, it wasn't.