In response to the spike of overdose deaths, a Montgomery parish investigates ways to address addiction and recovery concerns.

The Project

At St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, the "We Thirst: Christian Reflections on Addiction" series runs in November. People who struggle with addiction and those trying to help them, including their families, can attend a five-week course led by St. Francis Center for Renewal founder Nina Marie Corona, which includes night-time reflection for everyone involved.

The seminars are being conducted in person at Rosemont Chapel (1229 E. Lancaster Ave in Bryn Mawr), are also available online, and have attracted about 10 to 25 participants.

According to Karen Farley, a parishioner at St. Thomas and the church's business manager, it is an educational series that discusses all the different aspects that happen to those who are addicted.

One of the series' key concerns is the Catholic and Christian response to addiction, which affects the lives of individuals who use it and others who come into contact with it.

They look at addiction from a biological, physiologic, and sociological perspective.

A different virtue is emphasized each week, such as courage or fortitude, which helps those struggling with addiction face their fears, confess they need help, break bad habits, and make positive life changes.

"We need to cultivate courage," stated Corona, citing the Book of Joshua, which encourages us to be strong and courageous because God is always with us.

Addiction brings about several consequences for individuals, families, and society as a whole, so she takes a systemic approach to the problem.

Corona said, "We're all affected in some way."

Addiction, she stated, is a "family disease" that affects the entire network of relationships of which a person is a part. The fall of one domino causes the fall of the others, as demonstrated by Corona using dominoes. She stressed the importance of family healing and emphasized that each member of the family must do his or her share in seeking help.

According to Corona, "everyone in the family is interconnected. In order to still oneself, "everyone must do their part."

A person's background does not matter when it comes to addiction; superstars, as well as people who are homeless, can fall victim to the disease.

The Benefit

According to Corona, a person in addiction can benefit from a variety of services, including individual and group therapy, as well as medicine.

She highlighted the importance of stepping up and taking on new responsibilities as part of the rehabilitation process. Taking care of younger siblings is one example of a responsibility that children may be expected to take on as adults.

She also stressed the importance of forgiveness and maintaining a healthy perspective, noting that the harmful conduct of persons suffering from addiction is frequently the result of their sickness rather than their own volition.

It was only natural for Corona to make a reference to Jesus' narrative of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Another one of the father's children came forward to claim a portion of the wealth. So, the father accepted his son's wish, and the boy went off to another nation with the money his father had given him and lived in the wild, spending all his money. 

As the famine spread, the young man came to terms with the fact that he had sinned against both God and his father. When he got home, he told his father that he did not want to be treated like a slave. The father accepted him.  A feast was held in honor of the son's safe homecoming by the father, who was overjoyed.

Corona said the parable's message is about love and compassion. During her explanation of the parable, she played a recording of Laura Story's "Prodigal Song" to give the audience a chance to ponder.

Corona shared the need for a wise mind to be developed through reason and emotion in the journey towards recovery. It is about becoming a person who can have healthy relationships, she concluded.

The HEAL Initiative of the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association are only two of the many tools at your disposal for this purpose.

Corona recommended watching Greg Williams' 2013 documentary "The Anonymous People," which aims to turn addiction issues into solutions.

When Corona finished a recent session, she prayed, "We ask that you grant us the confidence to do the next right thing. On the 23rd of November, the series will resume with a talk on spirituality.

Also, The Mercy Ministry of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish assists families who are coping with the consequences of addiction. Callers may request specialized assistance, and the group will help locate options for those in need of assistance.