Two-Year Renovation Completed on Angela House Priory
Imburgia Consulting, LLC recently completed a two-year renovation and modernization of the 1959 Priory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, home to Angela House, a transitional house for women who have been incarcerated. The Priory is Angela House’s new location in Houston.
Angela House’s vocation is to help women who have been released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison and jail system to successfully transition back into society. It also serves women who have spent time in county jails. Staying at Angela House is voluntary.
The dedication of the new building was held on January 26 and was attended by over 400 people. The ribbon cutting was done by Sister Maureen O’Connell, executive director and founder of Angela House, who was flanked by the Houston Mayor and His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.
Aspects of the Program
Angela House’s transitional program centers on prayer, creative arts and individual counseling, which helps women gain self-respect and confidence. Each woman’s personal needs are considered in order to help her engage and succeed.
Angela House was founded in 2001 as a “Special Work” aspect of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. In 2006, it became an independent non-diocesan owned non-profit. Originally, it consisted of three aging duplex buildings with limited space and the ability to only serve 10-12 women. The new residence, however, has individual bedrooms, a commercial sized kitchen and a large dining room, large community room, enough space for various programs, and can house up to 16 women.
Angela House’s Philosophy and Mission
Angela House’s mission has been to establish a community where women respect themselves and the other women and who are committed to working on their own empowerment. Its communal atmosphere is designed to make individuals feel respected and valued and to empower them to discover their own strengths, set their own agendas, and make constructive changes in their lives. Its trauma-informed rehabilitative services in its safe, homelike environment include individual and group therapy; medical, dental, vision care and mental health referrals; job readiness training, 12-step recovery group sessions; and emotional and spiritual support. In addition, women are taught independent living skills, which helps reduce the recidivism rates and contributes to public safety.
Behind the Name
Angela House is named in honor of Angela M. Schneider O’Connell, who was the sister-in-law of founder Sister Maureen O’Connell and who passed in 1998 at age 51. Angela was an advocate for the empowerment of others and believed in the right of all people to live, grow and be the person they want to be. Her example inspired Sister O’Connell to create a place that removes the obstacles that women coming out of incarceration face and empowers them to build stable lives.
Sister O’Connell’s background aided in her calling. She spent 13 years as a Chicago police officer and police chaplain, 16 years as Clinical Services Coordinator at The Children’s Assessment Center in Houston and Victim’s Assistance Coordinate for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and more than 40 years as a Dominican Sister an order that works for social justice. She also served as Executive Director of Angela House for 17 years before retiring in 2018. Today, she sits on the Board of Directors for Angela House.
Imburgia Consulting is proud to have played a role in this important organization’s goals of helping women traumatized by their experiences in prison to move ahead and reclaim their lives.
For more information, visit https://angelahouse.org and https://imburgiaconsulting.com
