FAQs

Was Serenelli Project founded by Alessandro Serenelli?

No. It was founded by Marty Arlinghaus. Marty had the idea for a re-entry monastery as a stronger foundation for incarceration ministry. La someone introduced him to the story of Alessandro Serenelli, who lived the life that Marty wanted to create room in the Church for others to do, and hence the patronage and name of Serenelli was adopted for our mission.

We chose the name Serenelli to emphasize the redemption of Jesus Christ merited on the cross for the sinner, and that Alessandro lived out his conversion and redemption until the day he died, giving an example and witness to others who have committed crimes that they can do it, too. It is not to minimize the evil of his crimes, but rather to show the only way to fully contend with the problem of great evil is with God’s infinite goodness, which is expressed most profoundly in heartfelt forgiveness. St. Maria undoubtedly gave that kind of forgiveness to Alessandro, as did Assunta Goretti, Maria’s mother. They truly lived the command of our Savior to forgive from the heart, and they followed him who made himself the model of what that forgiveness looks like, and to whom it can extend. He forgave everyone who put him on the cross, which is every sinner from all times and places. That includes his friend who betrayed him, the temple guards who falsely arrested him, his disciples who abandoned him, the Jewish leaders who condemned him in a false trial, the false witnesses who rose up against him, the crowds who called for his execution and chose Barabas instead, Pilate who consented to it, the soldiers who tortured him, mocked him, a nailed him to the cross, those who were indifferent to his suffering, and many more. Another key point of this story is that Alessandro accepted Maria’s and Assunta’s forgiveness, which was the forgiveness of Christ through them while also being their own forgiveness of him. Jesus’ forgiveness is for Judas and Peter both, but Judas did not accept Jesus’ forgiveness, and Peter did. In our experience with prisoners, the majority live out of their condemnation and rejection, and struggle to improve because they cannot accept forgiveness. We have seen many object to Maria’s forgiveness of Alessandro, not seeing justice in it, and they reject that he was converted or transformed. All they want to see is the crime, and that in raising Alessandro up in honor we are saying in that, that we think lightly of what he did. That cannot be further from the truth. We see in the story of Alessandro Serenelli and St. Maria Goretti the story of Jesus Christ and the sinful world lived out in a most striking way, and we want to enter into His story like they did.

No. Anyone coming into Serenelli Project must be free to enter our community of their own free will. This means that they would have the freedom to move into your neighborhood anyway. The difference is that with Serenelli, our residents are thoroughly vetted to see if they are a good fit for our contemplative monastic way of life, and their remaining in the house depends on their living that life. They are surrounded by strong community and resources. Someone who comes to the neighborhood by themself does not have access to those resources and is not connected with our strong community network of volunteers, mentors, employment, and spiritual guides to support them in a good path.

No. The residence/monastery forms the core of Serenelli Project vision and is dedicated to contemplative monastic living, but our community includes staff and teams of volunteers for re-entry programs, parish community, mentorship, second chance hiring opportunities, and diocesan prison ministry.

No, those who have a criminal record and have been in society for a while are welcome to participate in our community/programs, and discern joining the monastery.

No. We are a community with and for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. Most of us are ordinary Catholics seeking to walk the path to heaven with our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.

No. We form a stable community living a monastic life together. Will some people transition out because they are called to a different vocation in life? More than likely. But we are aiming to create an actual monastery with lifelong residents. Even those who enter a discernment house intending to make it somewhere else in life form a lifelong bond with our community. It is this mentality that we seek to foster in everyone who is a part of Serenelli Project.

This also cannot serve as a half-way house upon release from prison if that is a requirement of an individual’s release. Through our re-mentorship program we will try to maintain contact with an individual in a half-way house and involve them as much as possible in Serenelli Project activities, but they are only eligible to enter the residential community once they have completed their time in their transitional house. One must be free to enter a Serenelli residence. Therefore, we do not accept court ordered releases into Serenelli houses.

You can give them the information for them to reach out, but they must reach out of their own free will. We do not accept someone who does not want to be here

We are always building toward becoming one by creating a community that follows the Rule of St. Benedict as well as it can. We pray and confidently hope that some courageous men will one day answer the call to religious life and profess solemn vows, which is when we would officially become a monastery.

Think monk and monastery. The monastic motto is Ora et Labora, meaning prayer and work. We live a spirituality of prayer and work in order that, by these things, we may live a balanced and disciplined life seeking the face of God in contemplation. It is a life of spiritual combat against the powers of the Evil One and to overcome sin and the weakness of human nature. We confidently hope that some of our members, both with a criminal history and not, will be able to profess religious vows and actually become monks one day.

No. The question for us is whether an individual is a good fit for our way of life and our community. Alessandro Serenelli committed two of the most heinous crimes one can commit, yet he was so transformed by St. Maria’s forgiveness and God’s grace in that forgiveness that he was an utterly changed man. He became a new creation, and in that restoration in Christ he persevered in his conversion to the end. He became a holy man and lived with Capuchin Friars, working as the gardener and doorkeeper of their monastery, and prayed with them. We believe there are many more Alessandro’s out there looking for a home in the Church like he found. We must take into account things like the space we have, the resources available for an individual, and the location/neighborhood we are in when determining if an applicant is a good fit for our community. The answer may be no, or not yet. Patience is necessary for pursuing the will of God and your vocation.

Bear in mind that what we are looking for is someone like Alessandro Serenelli. We’re not  looking for perfection, but we are looking for true humility, penitence, and conversion. Someone who does not care or take time to get to know us and let us get to know them, continues in a criminal lifestyle, exhibits pathological thought/behavior, has gross emotional immaturity, refuses to get sober and maintain their sobriety, refuses to work, doesn’t desire to pray alone and with others, doesn’t want to participate in programs and community life, or is simply looking to have a roof over their head for the sake of their transitional control application, is not an individual suited for life in our community. For some of these things we can help provide or connect an individual to services to help them, whether provided by Serenelli or another agency, such as: counseling, addiction recovery groups, victim awareness programs, employment, or spiritual guidance. However, Serenelli Project is not a social service agency. We are a Catholic community. You have to show that you want to be a part of the community to receive the benefits of it. There are programs, groups, prayer times, work days, etc. by which you can show that you want to be a part of the community. 

Serenelli Project reserves the right to refuse access and/or service to anyone who is belligerent, makes threats, attempts to coerce staff, volunteers, neighbors, and residents, perform criminal acts while in our programs or on our properties, deliberately and repeatedly violates our community rules, or in any other way is disruptive to the prayer, work, life, and tranquility of a Serenelli Project community and its surrounding neighborhood. 

Yes and no. We encourage everyone to reach out and inquire, but we also discern if an individual is right for our community, and that answer might be “no”. This applies to those who have a criminal history as well as everyone else. The contemplative and penitential spirituality and community life is key to understanding what we are really doing here, and it is not for everyone.  

There are also different levels of involvement. Someone may not be a good fit for residential living, but they may benefit greatly from being a part of our Catholic In Recovery group, or Bridges To Life program. If you are of good will and can accept what the community decides, we will discern in the Spirit where you fit best.  

 

No. Living in the monastic house is only for confirmed Catholics. When we have multiple houses, we can be open a discernment house for those who are striving to become Catholic. Non-Catholics and non-Christians are invited to participate in our prayers, work, programs, groups, etc. and to learn our way of life and the Catholic faith. None of that means you have to become Catholic as a result, but we encourage you to ask God if He is calling you to embrace our Catholic Christian faith. We profess the Catholic faith is the fullness of the truth, maintaining communion with and submission to the Church’s magisterium. We want you to have the fullness of truth and communion with Christ in the Church he founded, too. If you do feel called to the Catholic faith, we’re here to support you in the journey of conversion. Don’t be afraid to come and ask questions and learn, but please don’t come to preach.

At this time the only thing not available for women is the residence until such as a time as a woman foundress hears the call of God to found the women’s Serenelli community, like St. Scholastica did with her twin brother St. Benedict, or St. Clare did with St. Francis of Assisi.

Go to the volunteer page under How Do I Get Involved and fill out the form.

Yes. We have a company called Serenelli Industries that does second chance hiring. Check out the Serenelli Industries page and the dropdown menu for second chance hiring, and fill out the form to inquire. Serenelli Project has some staff positions that open up from time to time. We post those when they are open. 

We can help get you trained, or find where you do have something to offer and have you work.

Go to the Become a Resident page to fill out the form. That begins your discernment.

Yes, as long you are 18 years of age and meet the Church’s eligibility requirements for religious life.

 Our monastic model does not exist anywhere else to our knowledge.

Cash – send to Serenelli Project P.O. Box 15170, Cincinnati, OH 45215 

Check – make check out to Serenelli Project, Inc. and send to Serenelli Project P.O. Box 15170, Cincinnati, OH 45215 

Online – go to the donate page on our website 

Stock donation  – email info@serenelliproject.org to ask for broker information 

Bank Wire – email info@serenelliproject.org to ask for wiring information 

Partners of Serenelli Project are those companies or organizations that make a transformational gift, financial or in-kind, to help make our mission and vision a reality. But it is also a relationship with our community, and through us with the mission of the Catholic Church. Therefore, according to the moral law, we cannot knowingly accept gifts or form partnerships with companies/organizations whose business is contrary to the law of God and the Catholic Church.

Get in touch with us to see how you can get involved. Info@serenelliproject.org

Yes. Please reach out to us at info@serenelliproject.org