There was a legend from the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy that was very popular during the Middle Ages. It told of two thieves who held up the Holy Family on their way to Egypt. Dismas bought off Gestas to leave the family unharmed. Jesus predicted that Dismas and Gestas would be crucified with him in Jerusalem and that Dismas would accompany him to paradise.

The following reading is from Luke 24: 39-43: "One of the criminals hanging in crucifixion blasphemed him: 'Aren't you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us.' But the other one rebuked him: 'Have you no fear of God, seeing you are under the same sentence? We deserve it, after all. We are only paying the price for what we've done, but this man has done nothing wrong.' He then said 'Jesus, remember me when you enter upon your reign.' And Jesus replied, ' I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise.' "

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee created the Dismas Ministry in August 2000 to directly support the work of restorative justice for those within the correctional system.

Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., said, "This is a major step in strengthening our Catholic presence to those in correctional facilities throughout southeastern Wisconsin. We need to be there for prisoners and their families as the incarcerated strive to rehabilitate themselves."

The first initiative of the organization is to provide 3,000 free Bibles to Catholic inmates in correctional facilities across Wisconsin.

"It is very important for inmates to maintain their Catholic identity behind bars, where their faith frequently is challenged," said Rev. Michael Sturm, the archdiocese's Coordinator of Correctional Ministry.