Thrive For Life

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Thrive For Life

Transforming lives behind & beyond prison walls. Thrive for Life Prison Project was founded by Fr. Thrive for Life is transforming lives behind and beyond U. S.

Zachariah Presutti, SJ, a Jesuit of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus in response to the systemic injustices that perpetuate the cycle of recidivism and poverty among our returning citizens. prison walls. Thrive for Life currently offers quality meditative and reflective services for an examined life rooted in the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, to incarc

erated men and women in over six federal, state, and local correctional facilities in the New York metropolitan area. Dedicated and committed to a continuity of care for all those we accompany behind the prison walls, Ignacio House of Studies, established in June 2019, offers transitional supportive housing for returning citizens as they continue the good work of education through our local University partnerships. "I give thanks for brother Zach and the Thrive for Life team. They helped me understand how much I am loved despite the worst thing I ever did. I desire more than ever to be done with my old ways. I finally found myself again. I want another chance to love again."
- Victor, an inmate at a NYS correctional facility

09/05/2026

The celebration of Bakhita House continues as so many of our friends and supporters join in!

Our friend Hunt Slonem has generously gifted Thrive For Life two beautiful paintings of women saints, one for Abraham House and one for Bakhita House.

This painting of St. Teresa of Ávila will adorn Abraham House, creating an artistic and spiritual connection with our new sister, Bakhita House. We can’t wait to show you the painting that will find its home at Bakhita when it arrives!

Thank you so much, Hunt Slonem for helping us make our Houses of Studies places of beauty, homes that inspire hope, dignity, and transformation beyond prison walls.

09/04/2026

Going back to school is an act of hope.

Every Back to School gift is matched up to $100,000, so your dollar becomes two for the women of Bakhita House.

Link in bio.

08/28/2026

Today, Fr. Zach and Carlos, our Chief Mission Advancement & Communications Officer, sat down at the EIG Studio for an interview with the Milwaukee philanthropic community to share the mission and story of Thrive For Life.

We’re grateful to our host, Jill, for the wonderful conversation, and to Karen Ellenbecker for the generous invitation and the warm hospitality of her team.

The podcast will air in December, so stay tuned!

We continue making friends, building community, and transforming lives behind and beyond prison walls.

08/27/2026

Fr. Zach has arrived in Milwaukee, and we’re just a few days away from the blessing of the St. Bakhita Peace & Healing Garden!

There’s still time to join us, last-minute RSVPs are welcome. Fr. Zach and Anne look forward to celebrating this special moment with you.

08/24/2026

Lots happens every day at Thrive For life! Swipe for more.

On Saturday the 22nd, we welcomed at Abraham House Fr. Peter Heasley, pastor of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame, assistant chaplain at Columbia, professor of scripture at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie), and author. He toured our House of Study, learned about our mission, and shared with us his latest fiction novel The Shadow of Two Suns, a hope filled story of a death-row inmate who is sent to a barren moon and there learns the meaning of life, the power of choice and positive impact. We are grateful for his generous gift of copies of the book to be used in our efforts to transform lives behind and beyond prison walls.

On Sunday, Fr. Zach and Carlos visited eastern New York Correctional Facility to celebrate Mass, offer reflection, confession, and spend time with the men behind prison walls. They were introduced to the work of Thrive For Life and those interested got more information about our program. Interior freedom and transformation begins behind whatever wall imprisons us, and we are humbled to bring the good news to those justice impacted.

On Monday, Fr. Zach met with our new mission advancement and communications team as we prepare to work together to continue growing the mission of transforming lives behind and beyond prison walls. Fr. Zach has been away most of the summer and we’re happy to have him back in the office.

08/07/2026

Join us as we celebrate the Inaugural Blessing of the St. Bakhita Peace & Healing Garden and welcome Bakhita House as Thrive for Life’s first Women’s House of Study.

Together, we’ll gather in prayer, bless this sacred new space, unveil the newly arrived statue of St. Bakhita, tour the house, and celebrate with food, music, and community.

This is a celebration of hope, healing, and a future where more women can flourish behind and beyond prison walls.

📍 St. Bakhita House
3138 North 2nd St.
Milwaukee, WI

🗓 Saturday, August 29
⏰ Mass begins at 4:00 PM

Please RSVP by August 22. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRoYAm5RgEkP8NL5yC2yGut9JZunMUXpOGX02N3XiAGBu5ow/viewform?usp=dialog

07/31/2026

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and give thanks for the life and vision that continue to inspire Thrive for Life.

From his journey of conversion to the Spiritual Exercises and the founding of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius reminds us that God can bring transformation through wounded places, and that faith must always move outward in service.

Even the rays in our logo echo the Ignatian sunburst, a symbol of Christ’s light going out into the world.

Swipe through to learn more, and stay for a special message from Fr. Zach, SJ, on this feast day.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

07/28/2026

Lots has been happening in Milwaukee this summer! Our newly welcomed staff members gathered with the care team at Joseph House. From left to right: Carlos, Rosa, Christa, Michael, and Fr. Chris. Swipe to learn more!

The team gathered at Joseph House for introductions, conversation, and time together as we continue strengthening our ministry in Milwaukee.

We officially welcomed Bakhita House into the Thrive for Life family, a beautiful home with an extraordinary mission of accompaniment, community, and hope.

Our team held its first official meeting at Bakhita House alongside Anne, the house’s founder, who now joins the Thrive for Life team as we begin this new chapter together.

Preparations continue for the St. Bakhita Garden Celebration on August 29! Fr. Chris and Anne stand beside the newly arrived statue of St. Josephine Bakhita, which will be installed and blessed during the celebration.

Thanks to the generosity of Wally Sommers and Sommers Automotive, we were able to secure a vehicle for Fr. Christopher as he begins his ministry throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The vehicle will support his visits to prisons to offer the sacraments and spiritual accompaniment, as well as his travel between the chancery, Joseph House, and Bakhita House. We remain deeply grateful for everyone whose support helps ensure that lives continue to be transformed behind and beyond the prison walls! de

Address

30 West 16th Street
New York, NY
10011

Telephone

+12123377544

Website

https://thriveforlife.org/, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGvH9rOxEfS42xmcrLpa_Ht23MfcPlrLGhDk9K6Nu-soc2oQ/v

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