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Addictions and Recovery

St. Augustine famously said that, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” At one point or another, all of us find ourselves trying to fill that void or that restlessness with things other than God. The result can be unhealthy attachments and addictions that prevent from fully opening ourselves to His grace and peace. Addiction is a complicated condition with roots in brain conditioning, environmental stressors, and mental health. Find help by way of the following resources.

Help & Healing

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SAMHSA’s National Helpline

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP, is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

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Hazelton Betty Ford Foundation

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation website provides evidence-based resources for family members caring for loved ones that are struggling with addiction. The foundation emphasizes the importance of self-care in this process.

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Love First

Love First intervention assists families in interventions to open the doors to effective treatments for alcohol and drug addictions. Love First gives families the tools and resources to function as a Recovery Team for their loved one experiencing addiction.

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NA CoA logo featuring the text "NA CoA" in a square on the left and "Voice for the Children" in bold, capital letters on the right. The background is white with blue text.

Voice for the Children

The mission of the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families. They envision a world in which no child who struggles because of family addiction will be
left unsupported.

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Catholic in Recovery

Catholic in Recovery meetings overlap 12-step spirituality with the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. A nationwide ministry founded in San Diego, they are open to all seeking freedom from addiction, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Click here for their current meeting schedule.

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Exodus 90

Exodus 90 is a ninety-day spiritual exercise for men based on three pillars: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. All three of these pillars are essential aspects of the Christian life. Although not solely a program for those who struggle with addiction, this program requires abstaining from alcohol, media, and other negative influences.

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Crisis Text Line

Faced with an immediate crisis? Call 911 or use the Crisis Text Line, a free, confidential, 24/7 text line for anyone in crisis: Text 4HOPE to 741741.

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Logo for Al-Anon Family Groups featuring a blue triangle with a circle inside above the text. Below, a tagline reads: "Help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics."

Al-Anon Family Groups

Al‑Anon members come to understand problem drinking as a family illness that affects everyone in the family. By listening to Al‑Anon members speak at Al‑Anon meetings, you can hear how they came to understand their own role in this family illness. This insight put them in a better position to play a positive role in the family’s future. Click here to find a meeting near you.

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The words "Alcoholics Anonymous" are displayed in bold, black letters with a registered trademark symbol.

Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous

AA & NA offer recovery from the effects of addiction through a working twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. To find groups near you, click https://www.aa.org/find-aa or https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/

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Ministry Resources

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Prayer Resources from the Diocese of Erie: Order for the Blessing of a Person Suffering from Addiction or from Substance Abuse
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A person with long hair stands praying in a sunlit field, wearing a white blouse with lace sleeves. Sunlight filters through tree branches, illuminating the scene with a warm glow.
Prayer Resources from the Diocese of Erie: Ritual Prayer for the Sick, may be appropriate for those suffering from addiction
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Prayer Resources from the Diocese of Erie: Intercessions
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Catholic in Recovery
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Address of Pope Francis to conference participants on “Drugs and Addictions: An Obstacle to Integral Human Development”
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An open book rests on a stack of magazines on a wooden table. In the background, a potted plant is visible on a windowsill, with soft natural light coming in through the window.
Recommended books: Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention, by Jeff and Debra Jay
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Recommended Book: The Twelve Steps and the Sacraments, by Scott Weeman
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Contact Information

Staff

  • Director: John Prust
  • Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
  • Associate Director: Wendy Baez
  • Administrative Assistant: Vivian Toscano

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Catholic Diocese of San Diego

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

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