Addiction Recovery and Support Task Force

The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey have recognized the struggles of so many members of our faith communities who struggle with addiction themselves or within their families. In pastoral concerns they recently published "How Parishes Can Be A Part of the Communities' Journey of Recovery: A Pastoral Response to Addiction as a Spiritual Disease". 

This serves as a guide for pastors and parish staffs to see how they can best help parishioners and their families deal with this disease. Through ideas about community outreach and accompaniment the resource offers many different ideas and programs that parishes can support those on the road to recovery and their families.

Members of the Addiction Task Force for the Archdiocese can offer any help you may need. Please contact Rev. Timothy Graff at Rev.Timothy.Graff@rcan.org or 973-497-4318

Resources and other information can be found at: Addiction and Substance Abuse - New Jersey Catholic Conference - Trenton, NJ (njcatholic.org)

I THIRST Spiritual Companions

The Archdiocese of Newark, in conjunction with Seton Hall University invites you to answer the Church’s call to be a beacon of hope to those suffering from addiction. Please consider becoming an I THIRST Spiritual Companion. As a Spiritual Companion, you will provide spiritual consolation and recovery resource information to the afflicted and their families, and you will work with your pastor to develop (or supplement) a recovery ministry that fits the needs of your parish.

Why now? Overdose rates nationally are up 30 – 40% this year because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Funds earmarked for recovery programs have been diverted to COVID-19 related needs, leaving the afflicted with few or no resources.  We as a Church have an opportunity and a responsibility to help fill in the gaps

 I THIRST’s Spiritual Companion program is a 48-hour interactive and engaging training program that will be offered remotely, so that you may participate from the comfort of your home. Participants will be academically certified through both iTHIRST and Seton Hall University and will receive 4.8 Continuing Education Units. All sessions are VIRTUAL and will be scheduled every Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Start date: April 13th, 2021. End date: June 8th.   For further information, please see the link below.

https://www.shu.edu/academics/ithirst-spiritual-companionship-training.cfm