The Ministry of the Third Cross
Dr. Jorge Cuellar
The Ministry of the Third Cross (MOTC) is a retreat ministry for persons in the criminal justice system. It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Jorge Cuellar and is open to all faiths and those who are still searching. Attendees experience the love of Jesus Christ within a Spirit-filled, supportive, and community environment.
MOTC was created as part of the George W. Bush administration’s program to develop faith based and community initiatives. Its purpose was to integrate criminal justice reform that supported faith based prisoner reentry. While the next administration removed support for faith based prisoner reentry, Dr. Jorge Cuellar decided to create The Ministry of the Third Cross as a 501(c)3, so they could keep the tenets of the Christian faith.
MOTC mostly serves individuals that are either on federal probation, county probation, parole, or in the Texas Juvenile Justice System. The weekend retreats are like nothing else. Many attendees experience love, community, and mentorship for the first time in their lives. It is not uncommon for judges, doctors, attorneys and police officers to serve on the “team.” While the major component of MOTC is weekend retreats, MOTC is also in the halls of the probation department, the courthouse, and in court chambers. MOTC is out in the community, in church organizations and out in the streets.
MOTC also provides services for those affected by the system, which includes immediate family members. Individuals come to MOTC just out of jail and on probation. Dr. Jorge Cuellar says “we understand they are consumed by guilt, and we need to remove that shame, so they can be liberated to become productive citizens of the community. Often children grow up with a mother or father who is incarcerated, leaving them stigmatized. As they reach adolescence or adulthood, many have poor coping skills, poor social skills, and poor communication skills, which can lead them to incarceration.”
MOTC provides professional counseling by licensed social workers and family therapists. They network with the county to include the Center for Health Care Services. They work with the archdiocese at the parish level. After attending a weekend retreat, MOTC invites attendees to continue to participate by being on a “team” and helping others. Monthly Fellowship meetings are held to provide an evening of praise, worship and learning. Individuals are encouraged to reach out any time if they need more follow-up. Dr. Cuellar and other leaders in the organization often guide individuals to AA meetings, NA meetings or help them find a mental health counselor. MOTC also has a collaboration with the University of the Incarnate Word and the Oblate School of Theology in which students get access to the MOTC and help provide counseling services to retreat attendees.
In one inspiring example, a gentleman who had recently been released from prison attended an MOTC retreat. The retreat was such a success for him that he went on to become a chaplain through a program with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). He has stated, “MOTC was my rescue. I found Jesus, I felt supported, and I felt encouraged.” He is now serving as a full-time chaplain in one of the TDC units helping others who were in prison as he was years ago.
Dr. Cuellar wants people who are incarcerated or under supervision or parole to know they are beautiful and wonderfully made in the image of God. They have a right to resources that offer them a better life and a way to better their family. The Ministry of the Third Cross is looking for donations to pay for their retreats. Typically, a weekend retreat costs a person anywhere from $175 to $250. MOTC has been doing retreats for the last 27 years and, thankfully, no retreat attendee has ever had to pay for their retreat due to the donations, contributions, and fundraising of the team and community. For more information, to donate, or volunteer, call
(210) 410-4901 or visit
www.ministryofthethirdcross.org.
Meet The MOTC Team
