Diocesan Prayer
Good and Gracious God, We ask you to send forth your grace so that we might help people affected by addiction and the opioid epidemic. We pray that addicts will not fear seeking help and that their loved ones will never give up. We pray for all the people who help the addicted. And we pray for everyone who has lost loved ones. May we respond as the Church, proclaiming the Good News, filled with hope and gladness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
S.A.M. (Substance Addiction Ministry)
The creation of SAM was a direct response to the 1992 Pastoral Letter of the US Bishops titled “Communities of Hope: Parishes and Substance Abuse.” SAM is well-established in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and with their help, we are now bringing SAM to the Diocese of Greensburg as a joint ministry of the parishes of St. Agnes, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Immaculate Conception. SAM offers a distinctively Catholic starting point to begin the process of healing. It is not a replacement for counseling, therapy, treatment or participation in a 12-step program. It is about developing a personal relationship with Jesus.
Substance Addiction
- Alcohol and drug addiction is an epidemic in our society.
- The entire family is “affected”, not just the “afflicted” member.
- Addiction is an illness that devastates the whole person physically, mentally and spiritually.
- Substance addiction is not a moral problem or weakness.
- The American Medical Association (AMA) classifies alcohol and drug dependence as a primary disease, characterized by distinct stages of development, with specific signs and symptoms. If left untreated, it can be fatal.
- Addiction is a symptom of the absence of spirituality that disconnects a person from self, loved ones and God.
- No one wants to be an addict.
- The basic ingredient of quality sobriety is one of spiritual surrender to this spiritual illness.
- SAM’s mission is to help people reconnect with self, loved ones and God.
- SAM is a support ministry that helps people face the challenges that accompany addiction.
All Are Welcome!
The Ministry of S.A.M. is 3 fold.
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Prayer
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Personal Presence
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Presentations.
Prayer and Personal Presence
3rd Wednesday of Every Month – 6:30 pm
Rosary and Prayers for Recovery, followed by a time of personal presence and support.
Saint Agnes Convent Chapel
11400 St. Agnes Lane, North Huntingdon, PA 15642
Resources will be available
Presentations
Several times throughout the year, presentations will be offered on a variety of topics by experts in the field of addiction. Information will be available at the monthly prayer meetings or through the contact information below.
6 Steps to Sanity SANITY is a program whose goal is to bring hope, healing and freedom to parents, spouses and families of adult children struggling with addiction. Adapted from the bestselling book Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children by Allison Bottke, it is a 12-week ongoing session that provides Biblical principles and boundaries. Using the Setting Boundaries Companion Study Guide workbook, parents and families will learn how enabling and codependency contribute to addiction. Learning and applying these steps with other parents will produce healing and sanity in their lives. Email Jennifer Macioce or call 412-337-7455 for program information.
From Death and Despair to Life and Hope
“We must not be afraid to offer the healing power of prayer and the support of our community of faith as we confront this challenging evil of our time and place.”
“Unfortunately, the person with the addiction is not the only one affected by a debilitating and desperate situation. If someone you know – a spouse, friend, coworker, neighbor or relative – is addicted, everyone in the circle of relationships is affected.”
“We need to show every person who is addicted that there is help and there is hope. They need to know that we will not judge them, that we will not condemn them and that above all, we care for them.”
“The family of the Church is here to walk with them and support them.”
Excerpts from the June 29, 2017 Pastoral Letter
The Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic, JCL
Bishop of Greensburg
“We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependence, perhaps without even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: you can get up, you can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to. Dear friends, I wish to say to each of you, but especially to all those others who have not had the courage to embark on our journey: You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensable condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is able to stand up in your place.”
“You are never alone!”
Pope Francis, July 24, 2013