Throughout September, six Masses were celebrated across the Diocese in recognition of National Recovery Month, a time during which parishes acknowledge those who have achieved recovery and continue to support those still working toward the goal.
These Masses were coordinated by Jo Anne Farrell, Catholic Charities’ Addictions Healing Services coordinator. “Each Mass was a little different, but all were beautifully celebrated and well-attended,” she said. “The pastors were wonderful to work with and eager to celebrate these Masses. They provided an opportunity for people all across the Diocese to pray, gather and connect … and this connectedness is key, along with understanding, empathy and compassion. Connectedness to God and to each other.”
Mary Anne Serra, faith and family life coordinator at All Saints Parish, Millville, said she was inspired by the amount of people from Cumberland County who attended the Mass celebrated by Father Peter Idler, pastor, especially since the Mass occurred on the same day as the Sept. 1 storm that hit South Jersey.
She said that during the Final Blessing, “the skies opened. We spent time in support of each other as we waited for the rain to subside.”
In Salem County, Father Charles Colozzi, pastor of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish, celebrated Mass after all attendees prayed a Rosary. He reflected on the 12-step programs often used in addiction and recovery, saying they are “one of the great miracles of our day.”
He expanded on the value that Catholic/Christian principles bring, such as “faith, hope, confession of sin, meditation, being a good listener, recovery from addictive behaviors and building one’s own self-esteem. … Those who try everything else and fail often find successful recovery when they turn their lives over to God in the 12 steps. We’ve all become far too attached in this world to created things that do not satisfy us, when God has permitted each of us to suffer from an emptiness within that only he can fill.”
Following each service, attendees shared personal stories of recovery and spoke of how important the Masses were to them, as well as the Church’s recognition of National Recovery Month. Farrell said the opportunity to share such stories is essential to overcoming the stigma surrounding substance misuse and addiction.
At Mantua’s Church of the Incarnation, for example, Father Raymond Gormley, pastor, celebrated Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, after which one participant shared his story.
“I was a drunk for years and years. What changed was one day when I happened to see a statue of Mary holding Jesus, wounded. The sorrow and pain in her eyes and her face as she held Jesus in her arms … it struck me to the core, and it reminded me of the pain I’d see in my own mother, who would often see me come home drunk,” he said. “I prayed, I healed, and I’m recovered here today. We can always look to Mary for strength, for healing.”
Also in attendance at the Mass were support groups: the Calix Society, Community Connections and Deeper Dimensions.
Those struggling with addiction and their families also shared their experiences at Masses celebrated by Father Thomas Barcellona at Our Lady of Angels Parish, Cape May Court House, and by Father John March, parochial vicar, at Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood. At Saint Michael Church, a worship site of Atlantic City’s Parish of Saint Monica, Father Kevin Mohan, pastor, preached a homily on reconciliation and forgiveness, after which the Franciscan Sisters of Renewal participated by handing out pen and paper, asking all to write down the names of loved ones. Papers were collected and placed at the foot of the altar to be included during the intercessional prayers.
For assistance or to learn more about Catholic Charities’ Addictions Healing Ministry, contact Jo Anne Farrell at joanne.farrell@Camdendiocese.org.
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