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 incarcerated 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

10/24/2026

Welcome to Thrive For Life! 🙏

We believe that no life is beyond redemption.

Thrive For Life is a national Catholic prison ministry dedicated to transforming lives behind and beyond prison walls.

Behind prison walls, we bring the hope of the Gospel to incarcerated men and women through spiritual accompaniment, retreats, prayer, and the sacramental life of the Church.

Beyond prison walls, our Houses of Studies provide formerly incarcerated individuals with a supportive community, educational opportunities, and the resources to rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose, and hope.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: every human life has inherent dignity, every person deserves a second chance, and transformation is always possible.

In this video, meet Father Zach and Carlos as they introduce you to our mission and the people and communities who make it possible.

Whether you’re discovering Thrive For Life for the first time or have been walking alongside us for years, we’re grateful you’re here. ❤️

We invite you to follow our journey, share our mission, and become part of a growing community that believes in the power of redemption.

Because no life is beyond redemption.

10/23/2026

“Cook for somebody, that means love.” ❤️ — Lidia Bastianich

And that’s exactly what our dear friend Lidia brought to Abraham House!

Abraham House is one of Thrive For Life’s supportive living communities, where men returning home from incarceration find a place to rebuild their lives through education, personal growth, and the support of a loving community. We call these men our resident scholars, because we believe every person has the capacity to learn, grow, and begin again.

Lidia and her family have been part of this journey for years. During the pandemic, they generously provided our residents with pasta, sauces, and other food essentials, while Lidia joined us over Zoom to teach cooking lessons and share her love of food.

This week, we had the extraordinary joy of welcoming her in person!

What unfolded was so much more than a cooking lesson. Between preparing pasta, sharing laughter, and offering heartfelt words of wisdom, Lidia reminded us that food has the beautiful power to bring people together, create belonging, and nurture hope.

Thank you, Lidia, and your wonderful family, for your friendship, generosity, and the love you continue to share with our resident scholars. ❤️

🎬 Here’s a glimpse of our special afternoon together. Stay tuned for the full mini-documentary!

There’s been a lot to celebrate at Abraham House lately! 🎉📚🏀At Thrive For Life, transformation happens in the classroom,...
10/16/2026

There’s been a lot to celebrate at Abraham House lately! 🎉📚🏀

At Thrive For Life, transformation happens in the classroom, in community, and in the everyday moments that make a house a home.

📚 Working hard, playing hard! Our resident scholars have been busy pursuing their GEDs and other certifications through classes offered right here at Abraham House. But even the most dedicated students deserve a break! Our staff and teachers make sure there’s time to step away from the books, whether that means a game of basketball, dinner out, or an adventure around New York City.

🎂 Celebrating the people who make our house a home! We’ve also been celebrating birthdays, honoring both our resident scholars and the dedicated staff members who work tirelessly behind the scenes to create a healthy, supportive, and thriving community.

🎓 Celebrating growth and achievement! A special congratulations to our resident scholars who recently earned their Anger Management course certificates! Every accomplishment represents another step toward personal growth, healing, and a brighter future.

These are just a few glimpses of the many blessings unfolding in our Houses of Studies. Transformation is always happening at Thrive For Life, and it happens because of a community of people who believe that every life holds the promise of something greater.

To all who make this mission possible, THANK YOU! Whether through your generous donations, your encouragement, your prayers, or simply by following our journey and liking this post (wink, wink 😉), you are part of this transformation.

Here’s to many more reasons to celebrate! 🧡

On October 3, Bakhita House in Milwaukee welcomed a group of Cristo Rey High School students for their service day! The ...
10/07/2026

On October 3, Bakhita House in Milwaukee welcomed a group of Cristo Rey High School students for their service day!

The students spent time in our new St. Bakhita Peace and Healing Garden, toured the house, and learned about its history and our work supporting justice-impacted women and survivors of sexual exploitation. They also painted garden rocks, leaving colorful reminders of their visit for our community to enjoy.

Transforming lives behind and beyond prison walls takes a community. Our young people are an integral part of carrying this mission forward, bringing creativity, compassion, and a willingness to serve.

Thank you, Cristo Rey, for spending the day with us!

Is your high school near one of our Houses of Studies? We would love to welcome your students for a visit. Connect with us at www.thriveforlife.org.

10/06/2026

From meeting in prison, to residing in our Houses of Study, to getting an education, employment, and now his own apartment. This is Michael’s story.

🎓 We’re halfway there!Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $50,000 toward our $100,000 matching gift challenge.Your...
09/18/2026

🎓 We’re halfway there!

Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $50,000 toward our $100,000 matching gift challenge.

Your support this Back-to-School season is helping our resident scholars begin the academic year strong and preparing Bakhita House, our first House of Study for women, to welcome women ready to rebuild their lives through education, community, and purpose.

Now, we need your help to reach the finish line. Every gift brings us closer to unlocking the full $100,000 matching gift, doubling the impact of your generosity.

$50,000 raised. $50,000 to go. Together, let’s unlock the match!

Make your gift at thriveforlife.org/donate or contact [email protected].

Thank you for investing in hope-filled futures and helping transform lives both behind and beyond the prison walls.

Something exciting arrived at Bakhita House! A very special delivery made its way to Milwaukee. Swipe to see what’s insi...
09/17/2026

Something exciting arrived at Bakhita House!
A very special delivery made its way to Milwaukee. Swipe to see what’s inside.

The unboxing begins…
There was a lot of curiosity around this very carefully packed arrival.

Carefully does it!
Fr. Christopher gets the first glimpse. When the package is this big, unveiling it becomes a team effort.

The reveal!
A beautiful original work of St. Thérèse of Lisieux by artist and friend of Thrive For Life - Hunt Slonem! We all share the reaction of Anne Haines. This painting brings beauty and inspiration to all who will step inside Bakhita House.

Bishop Haines celebrated Mass and blessed this beautiful work of art.

Art does more than decorate the walls of our Houses of Studies. It elevates the soul, reminding us of the inherent beauty and dignity we all share as children of God. Beauty is an integral part of our mission of transforming lives both behind and beyond the prison walls.

Thank you, Hunt!

09/11/2026

Homily from Thursday’s community Mass at Abraham House. preaching the transformative power of the Gospel.

We are excited to announce the start of our Social Work Fellowship! This one-year program is designed to support recent ...
09/08/2026

We are excited to announce the start of our Social Work Fellowship! This one-year program is designed to support recent graduates of social work programs, who demonstrate genuine commitment to accompanying individuals and communities impacted by incarceration.

Starting today, September 8, Morgan joins us as our inaugural social work fellow! We are blessed to have her!

If you are interested in learning more about the Social Work Fellowship, connect with us at [email protected] and stay tuned for future posts.

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.

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30 West 16th Street
New York, NY
10011

Telephone

+12123377544

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