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Recent Posts
4 Reasons to Become Involved with Catholic in Recovery
Jul 13, 2022 | 12-Step Meetings, Community, Spiritual Tools
Stepping over the threshold into the rooms of recovery is one of the hardest things many of us will ever do. By God's grace, we muster up the courage to admit our powerlessness and surrender ourselves and life to a fellowship of recovery. By living sober, we realize...
Finding Al-Anon and Loving a Daughter Struggling with Addiction
Jul 8, 2022 | Loved One of an Addict, Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
I was a cradle Catholic raised as the oldest of four children. Being part of a large extended Irish-Catholic family, we had lots of celebrations where beer and liquor were always plentiful. When I was 10 years old my world fell apart, my father was a detective and he...
The Extraordinary Benefits of the Confessional
Jul 6, 2022 | Mercy, Reconciliation, Sacraments, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments
In my opinion, after the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the second greatest sacrament for Catholics. It allows us to grow closer to God and helps us receive the many graces God wants to pour out over us. Confidentiality is also guaranteed. Many...
Seeing the Church as Our Loving Mother
Jun 29, 2022 | Help from the Saints, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Sacraments, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Scripture Reflection, Spiritual Tools, The Blessed Mother
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were talking about the messiness of my relationship with my mom, and a video I had recently watched online popped into my head. The video began with sentimental background music and captions explaining the circumstances of a family: the...
Overcoming Opioid Addiction with the Help of Catholic in Recovery
Jun 22, 2022 | Addiction, Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Drugs, Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
When I was younger, I thought I would never be the type of person that was going to have a history of opioid addiction. I was the “good girl.” I was homeschooled. I was one of seven kids who had Christian parents (my Dad was a pastor!). Drugs were never even on my...
The 3 Necessary Phases to Find Lasting Recovery
May 25, 2022 | Addiction, Expert Opinion, General, Getting Sober, Spiritual Tools
In his book Change or Die, Alan Deutschman details the three phases required to undergo lasting change in our lives: relate, repeat, and reframe. This is also what we do to find healing and freedom in recovery. We relate to others by joining a recovery community that...
A Naval Officer Admits His Powerlessness Over Alcohol to Find Freedom and Healing
May 23, 2022 | Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
“In the early 1980’s I was an aircraft carrier-based naval flight officer in the E-2C HAWKEYE radar aircraft. Naval Aviation was a drinking culture back then,” Kevin S. said. “Each port we came across seemed to have its own special drink, and I was intent on sampling...
How We Can Be “Full of Grace” Like Mary
May 18, 2022 | Help from the Saints, Prayer, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Spiritual Tools, The Blessed Mother, Third Step
One of the practices that I like to do when I pray is to repeat the words slowly so I can contemplate each one. As I pray for my children to have a gentle mother, I have been drawn to the phrase “full of grace” in the Hail Mary. To be full of grace means there is no...
How the Lord Miraculously Freed Me of Alcoholism on a Park Bench
May 11, 2022 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Getting Sober, Relapse, Second Step, The Twelve Steps
Each week, I drive by a beautiful park on my way to a recovery meeting. During my drive, I always notice a particular bench and remind myself that that’s where “it” happened—the Lord’s miraculous healing of my alcoholism. I came into the rooms of Recovery in 2013. I...
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems: Part 2
May 4, 2022 | Catholic Psychology, Psychology & Therapy, Therapy
In part one of this series, I wrote about the recovery principle of acceptance and how through acceptance we can begin to live “life on life’s terms.” Yet, how can we practically live “life on life’s terms”? Philosophers divide knowledge into theoretical and practical...
![4 Reasons to Become Involved with Catholic in Recovery](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-35.jpeg)
4 Reasons to Become Involved with Catholic in Recovery
Jul 13, 2022 | 12-Step Meetings, Community, Spiritual Tools
Stepping over the threshold into the rooms of recovery is one of the hardest things many of us will ever do. By God's grace, we muster up the courage to admit our powerlessness and surrender ourselves and life to a fellowship of recovery. By living sober, we realize...
![Finding Al-Anon and Loving a Daughter Struggling with Addiction](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-31.jpeg)
Finding Al-Anon and Loving a Daughter Struggling with Addiction
Jul 8, 2022 | Loved One of an Addict, Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
I was a cradle Catholic raised as the oldest of four children. Being part of a large extended Irish-Catholic family, we had lots of celebrations where beer and liquor were always plentiful. When I was 10 years old my world fell apart, my father was a detective and he...
![The Extraordinary Benefits of the Confessional](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-28.jpeg)
The Extraordinary Benefits of the Confessional
Jul 6, 2022 | Mercy, Reconciliation, Sacraments, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments
In my opinion, after the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the second greatest sacrament for Catholics. It allows us to grow closer to God and helps us receive the many graces God wants to pour out over us. Confidentiality is also guaranteed. Many...
![Seeing the Church as Our Loving Mother](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-27.jpeg)
Seeing the Church as Our Loving Mother
Jun 29, 2022 | Help from the Saints, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Sacraments, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Scripture Reflection, Spiritual Tools, The Blessed Mother
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were talking about the messiness of my relationship with my mom, and a video I had recently watched online popped into my head. The video began with sentimental background music and captions explaining the circumstances of a family: the...
![Overcoming Opioid Addiction with the Help of Catholic in Recovery](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-25.jpeg)
Overcoming Opioid Addiction with the Help of Catholic in Recovery
Jun 22, 2022 | Addiction, Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Drugs, Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
When I was younger, I thought I would never be the type of person that was going to have a history of opioid addiction. I was the “good girl.” I was homeschooled. I was one of seven kids who had Christian parents (my Dad was a pastor!). Drugs were never even on my...
![The 3 Necessary Phases to Find Lasting Recovery](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-22.jpeg)
The 3 Necessary Phases to Find Lasting Recovery
May 25, 2022 | Addiction, Expert Opinion, General, Getting Sober, Spiritual Tools
In his book Change or Die, Alan Deutschman details the three phases required to undergo lasting change in our lives: relate, repeat, and reframe. This is also what we do to find healing and freedom in recovery. We relate to others by joining a recovery community that...
![A Naval Officer Admits His Powerlessness Over Alcohol to Find Freedom and Healing](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CIR-Blog-Testimonials-2-1080x600.png)
A Naval Officer Admits His Powerlessness Over Alcohol to Find Freedom and Healing
May 23, 2022 | Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony
“In the early 1980’s I was an aircraft carrier-based naval flight officer in the E-2C HAWKEYE radar aircraft. Naval Aviation was a drinking culture back then,” Kevin S. said. “Each port we came across seemed to have its own special drink, and I was intent on sampling...
![How We Can Be “Full of Grace” Like Mary](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-20.jpeg)
How We Can Be “Full of Grace” Like Mary
May 18, 2022 | Help from the Saints, Prayer, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Saints—On Earth & in Heaven, Spiritual Tools, The Blessed Mother, Third Step
One of the practices that I like to do when I pray is to repeat the words slowly so I can contemplate each one. As I pray for my children to have a gentle mother, I have been drawn to the phrase “full of grace” in the Hail Mary. To be full of grace means there is no...
![How the Lord Miraculously Freed Me of Alcoholism on a Park Bench](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-19.jpeg)
How the Lord Miraculously Freed Me of Alcoholism on a Park Bench
May 11, 2022 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Getting Sober, Relapse, Second Step, The Twelve Steps
Each week, I drive by a beautiful park on my way to a recovery meeting. During my drive, I always notice a particular bench and remind myself that that’s where “it” happened—the Lord’s miraculous healing of my alcoholism. I came into the rooms of Recovery in 2013. I...
![Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems: Part 2](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/COPY-CIR-Blog-Images-17.jpeg)
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems: Part 2
May 4, 2022 | Catholic Psychology, Psychology & Therapy, Therapy
In part one of this series, I wrote about the recovery principle of acceptance and how through acceptance we can begin to live “life on life’s terms.” Yet, how can we practically live “life on life’s terms”? Philosophers divide knowledge into theoretical and practical...