Welcome
Several years ago, some
of us men and women accepted an invitation to attend a spiritual retreat in
San Antonio and were overwhelmed with the spiritual
results that came about in our lives. Our lives have changed and we have
become positively involved in our communities and churches. Throughout that
initial retreat weekend, we learned about (ACTS) Adoration, Community,
Theology and Service. The ACTS movement began in San Antonio
and has grown throughout the United States and other countries. It
has gone as far as Africa. The men and women who have participated in these
ACTS retreats are called to bring this message of Jesus’ love to others.
Jorge Cuellar who was a probation officer with the Bexar County Community
Supervision and Corrections Department at the time experienced this ACTS
retreat which in turn led him to found the Ministry of the Third Cross
(MOTC). This ministry offers these ACTS retreats exclusively to men and
women in the adult criminal justice system.
For the past
twelve years this ministry has continued to provide spiritual
retreats for men and women currently on probation/parole in Bexar County and surrounding
areas. Some of the judiciaries offer the probationers the
opportunity to participate on these 4-day retreats and it has been a
great success. Today, the MOTC organizes and supports 5 yearly
retreats (3 for men and 2 for the women) with over 100 volunteers.
Our volunteers are mostly from Bexar county and some surrounding
counties i.e. Kerr County. Each retreat
requires 100 + hours of commitment from each volunteer and we
average 35 volunteers per retreat. Our M OTC
retreat in August 2008 was attended by Bishop Cantu and he was
overwhelmed when he saw over 60 men praying and working together in
a very humble way serving God. Currently, we are averaging around 25
young offenders per retreat. This is hard work, however it is very
rewarding to see how the retreat transforms these men and women by
the end of the weekend in a spiritual way.Two years ago
the MOTC was offered the opportunity to bring these retreats into
the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). The first retreat took place in
early 2006 in Denton County at the McFadden Ranch Facility. Today,
the MOTC supports five retreats in the adult criminal justice system
and two within the TYC system. Some of the TYC retreats are in San
Antonio retreat facilities, but others take place within the walls
of the TYC system around the State of Texas as of 2008. As the Lord
opens the doors in the criminal justice there are plans to continue
this into the future. Again, this continues to be a great success.
Last year the TYC nominated MOTC for three separate awards, 1)
Volunteer achievement award in a community-based program, 2)
Chaplaincy volunteer in an institution community based program and
3) Volunteer
achievement award group award. The MOTC also won the nomination for
the Volunteer Achievement Award In a Community Based Program. What
an honor for Our Lord and our ministry to be honored in this way by
the TYC.
We are blessed to have some hard
working members of the Bexar County judicial system
support our cause. The following are a few; Honorable
District Judge Sid Harle (226 District Court), Honorable
Judge Al Alonzo (County Court No. 1), and Honorable
District Judge Ernie Glen (Felony Drug Court) along with
members from the Bexar County Community Supervision and
Corrections Department like Mary Moncivias (Assistant
Deputy Chief). All of our Board of Directors are ready
to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to call
Dr. Jorge Cuellar (Board President) at 210-410-4901, Dan
Stephens (Board VP) at 210-722-4768 or John Damon
(Treasurer) at 210-365-5015.
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