By Fr. Baptiste Regina Mapunda (M.Afr), Wa Diocese-Ghana
Pope Francis’ convocation of the marriage and family synod is timely as the institution of family is facing many difficulties today. The modern understanding of the Church is now described as “the first school of love and life” the source of life for every human being. Saint John Paul II in his encyclical “Consortio Familiaris” points out that “the life of every human being passes through the family.” The question at stake is how has this family today become the birthplace of every one of us?
This institution which is very fundamental to our life, Church and the society at large is facing a lot of threats for the time being from married people themselves, families, Church teaching on marriage, addictions, financial hardships and good parenting among others. The convocation of the upcoming synod on marriage and family is a clear sign for me that the Pope understands the sufferings and struggles of families today which need the attention and healing from the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit “go to every house and announce the Kingdom of God, eat and drink but don’t forget to heal the sick” (Luke 10: 1-12).
The situation of our families today is calling for great care and good pastoral ministering as well. Evangelization of families poses a huge pastoral challenge in our modern Church today all around the world. The family has become a place of “evangelization and healing” to put in the language of Jesus Christ who became flesh through Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:14). The Church cannot afford to avoid families today, because they are the ‘domestic or first Church’ that prays and live together’ united by the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting upon the challenges that face families today one cannot fail to notice the big threat that come from alcoholism. Today alcohol is found in many families as sometimes our families act as a bar, alcohol is found in our religious houses, parish houses, formation houses, in offices, in our car boots and even in our pockets. It is to say that alcohol is cunning, powerful and baffling. Alcoholism is a reality and has become normal to our life. But in truth alcoholism is an addiction better described as a sickness by the medical department and the alcoholic anonymous fellow men and women. While alcohol sounds a beautiful beverage to be consumed but experience teaches us that alcohol must be taken sensibly and without excess. Medical and recovering alcoholics have testified that ‘too much consumption of alcohol is harmful’ it actually leads into sickness and ultimately premature death.
Alcoholism becomes an addiction due to the fact that in finally analysis it becomes a physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substance which is alcohol. When it becomes an addiction alcohol is able to alter ones brain and behavior without the awareness of the person concerned. This is where alcohol becomes a suffering to many couples and families. It brings madness and creates dysfunctional families and societies around the world.
It is important for the synod members to understand that alcoholism is the most common of all the addictions because it coexists with human beings, yet alcohol kills many family members silently. In fact alcoholism is a human sickness which has no race, religion or a continent to be referred to like Ebola or malaria. Often than not, alcoholism is described as a disease of progressive nature characterized with denial. An alcoholic denies that he drinks too much; he denies that his or her life is in a mess and so forth. Salvation comes only once one accepts his sickness.
To most families very often when faced with an alcoholic family member the question is always ‘what can we do’ to help him or her? What can the Church do to help addicted Christians today? The first thing is to get proper information about the alcoholism as a sickness. As a communicator I think that through advocacy and effective communication only can this demon called alcohol we have to live with can be efficiently caged. Without accurate information of this killer disease of alcoholism and the inherent dangers of alcohol will continue to violently rape and destroy our families which is the foundation of our Church and the society at large.
It is in this sense that alcohol has become the worst enemy of our families today, the Church and the world at large. Alcohol is causing suffering, pain, family stress, crime, marriage breakups (divorce), incest, rape in families and society, violence, fatal accidents, dysfunctional families, bad parenting and breeds immoral behavior in the society. Finally alcoholism creates irresponsible and alcoholic citizens who will die prematurely.
All in all, the question is what can the Church do to save the deteriorating situation before it is too late. It is here that the notion of ‘smelling the sheep’ notion of Pope Francis must be put into reality.
This upcoming synod on marriage and family is the proper place to look critically into this problem of alcoholism. What are the felt effects of alcoholism in our families and the Church of today? Is the Church close enough to the people (families) to be able to discuss, give advice and render help to the suffering members? Are the Bishops and priests well informed about this acute problem that eats up their Church members? I believe that the Church can be of great help to render help and treatment to the suffering family members today if it takes seriously these issues.
Catholic Church can wisely adapt the (AA) Alcoholic Anonymous program in parishes as a pastoral method to help the addicted Christians. In Europe and America the presence of AA is already there it is a matter of finding the healthy way of integrating it into our family healing ministry in a parish. I would like to believe that Jesus’ ministry is basically of healing as he put it rightly himself that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and that he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor and healing the broken hearted” (Luke 4:18-19). I believe that among the broken hearted are the suffering alcoholics.
It is my belief that if Catholic Church will advocate the use of the 12 steps of the Alcoholic Anonymous as the recovery program for suffering family members it will be of great advantage. This program is a spiritual program that believes in higher power which is God in finally analysis but as you understand Him in your heart. Alcoholics Anonymous is described as a” fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to overcome their alcoholism.”
Finally let us continue to pray with the Holy Father and the whole Church for the success of this upcoming synod on marriage and family in October 2014. In a more practical way the Catholic Church needs to establish what I call ‘family healing ministry’ and apply as a pastoral tool in the evangelization of the families today. In a special way let us pray for the flourishing of the healing ministry in our Church today as the focal point in the ministry of Jesus Christ using the serenity prayer:
“Oh Lord grant me the Serenity to accept the Things I cannot Change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to Know the Difference, Amen.”
Click here for the PDF file of this article.
Tag: alcoholism
By Fr. Baptiste Regina Mapunda (M.Afr), Wa Diocese-Ghana
Pope Francis’ convocation of the marriage and family synod is timely as the institution of family is facing many difficulties today. The modern understanding of the Church is now described as “the first school of love and life” the source of life for every human being. Saint John Paul II in his encyclical “Consortio Familiaris” points out that “the life of every human being passes through the family.” The question at stake is how has this family today become the birthplace of every one of us?
This institution which is very fundamental to our life, Church and the society at large is facing a lot of threats for the time being from married people themselves, families, Church teaching on marriage, addictions, financial hardships and good parenting among others. The convocation of the upcoming synod on marriage and family is a clear sign for me that the Pope understands the sufferings and struggles of families today which need the attention and healing from the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit “go to every house and announce the Kingdom of God, eat and drink but don’t forget to heal the sick” (Luke 10: 1-12).
The situation of our families today is calling for great care and good pastoral ministering as well. Evangelization of families poses a huge pastoral challenge in our modern Church today all around the world. The family has become a place of “evangelization and healing” to put in the language of Jesus Christ who became flesh through Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:14). The Church cannot afford to avoid families today, because they are the ‘domestic or first Church’ that prays and live together’ united by the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting upon the challenges that face families today one cannot fail to notice the big threat that come from alcoholism. Today alcohol is found in many families as sometimes our families act as a bar, alcohol is found in our religious houses, parish houses, formation houses, in offices, in our car boots and even in our pockets. It is to say that alcohol is cunning, powerful and baffling. Alcoholism is a reality and has become normal to our life. But in truth alcoholism is an addiction better described as a sickness by the medical department and the alcoholic anonymous fellow men and women. While alcohol sounds a beautiful beverage to be consumed but experience teaches us that alcohol must be taken sensibly and without excess. Medical and recovering alcoholics have testified that ‘too much consumption of alcohol is harmful’ it actually leads into sickness and ultimately premature death.
Alcoholism becomes an addiction due to the fact that in finally analysis it becomes a physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substance which is alcohol. When it becomes an addiction alcohol is able to alter ones brain and behavior without the awareness of the person concerned. This is where alcohol becomes a suffering to many couples and families. It brings madness and creates dysfunctional families and societies around the world.
It is important for the synod members to understand that alcoholism is the most common of all the addictions because it coexists with human beings, yet alcohol kills many family members silently. In fact alcoholism is a human sickness which has no race, religion or a continent to be referred to like Ebola or malaria. Often than not, alcoholism is described as a disease of progressive nature characterized with denial. An alcoholic denies that he drinks too much; he denies that his or her life is in a mess and so forth. Salvation comes only once one accepts his sickness.
To most families very often when faced with an alcoholic family member the question is always ‘what can we do’ to help him or her? What can the Church do to help addicted Christians today? The first thing is to get proper information about the alcoholism as a sickness. As a communicator I think that through advocacy and effective communication only can this demon called alcohol we have to live with can be efficiently caged. Without accurate information of this killer disease of alcoholism and the inherent dangers of alcohol will continue to violently rape and destroy our families which is the foundation of our Church and the society at large.
It is in this sense that alcohol has become the worst enemy of our families today, the Church and the world at large. Alcohol is causing suffering, pain, family stress, crime, marriage breakups (divorce), incest, rape in families and society, violence, fatal accidents, dysfunctional families, bad parenting and breeds immoral behavior in the society. Finally alcoholism creates irresponsible and alcoholic citizens who will die prematurely.
All in all, the question is what can the Church do to save the deteriorating situation before it is too late. It is here that the notion of ‘smelling the sheep’ notion of Pope Francis must be put into reality.
This upcoming synod on marriage and family is the proper place to look critically into this problem of alcoholism. What are the felt effects of alcoholism in our families and the Church of today? Is the Church close enough to the people (families) to be able to discuss, give advice and render help to the suffering members? Are the Bishops and priests well informed about this acute problem that eats up their Church members? I believe that the Church can be of great help to render help and treatment to the suffering family members today if it takes seriously these issues.
Catholic Church can wisely adapt the (AA) Alcoholic Anonymous program in parishes as a pastoral method to help the addicted Christians. In Europe and America the presence of AA is already there it is a matter of finding the healthy way of integrating it into our family healing ministry in a parish. I would like to believe that Jesus’ ministry is basically of healing as he put it rightly himself that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and that he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor and healing the broken hearted” (Luke 4:18-19). I believe that among the broken hearted are the suffering alcoholics.
It is my belief that if Catholic Church will advocate the use of the 12 steps of the Alcoholic Anonymous as the recovery program for suffering family members it will be of great advantage. This program is a spiritual program that believes in higher power which is God in finally analysis but as you understand Him in your heart. Alcoholics Anonymous is described as a” fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to overcome their alcoholism.”
Finally let us continue to pray with the Holy Father and the whole Church for the success of this upcoming synod on marriage and family in October 2014. In a more practical way the Catholic Church needs to establish what I call ‘family healing ministry’ and apply as a pastoral tool in the evangelization of the families today. In a special way let us pray for the flourishing of the healing ministry in our Church today as the focal point in the ministry of Jesus Christ using the serenity prayer:
“Oh Lord grant me the Serenity to accept the Things I cannot Change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to Know the Difference, Amen.”
Click here for the PDF file of this article.
Congolese born at the very last day of 1974, Pierre Lukusa is a Missionary of Africa since his Oath on the 26th August 2005. Today, Father Lukusa is sharing his experience of life and his hope for the future.
Why did you go to Brazil?
I left my mission placement in Mozambique towards the end of 2011 for an anticipated home-leave in the DRCongo to find a way to treat my unbalanced drinking problem which was becoming alarming to myself and to the confreres. I was offered to go to Brazil for treatment at a rehabilitation centre for chemical dependents and alcoholics called “Fazenda d´Esperança”. It was founded by Father Hans Stapel, OFM, in collaboration with three lay persons; Nelson Giovanelli Rosendo, Iraci and Lucy. This organisation was officially recognised by the Pontifical Office of Laity after the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Fazenda on the 27th May 2007. I am here since August 2012 to deepen the program I started in February 2012 in Nairobi.
Was it easy to get a visa for Brazil?
No, it was not! I had to wait nearly a year to get it. This is why I was proposed to go to Nairobi to start the program. Our confrere Baptiste Mapunda helped me to get a place at the “Raphaelites Centre”. I went through a very intense therapeutic program whereby I learnt fascinating things about myself.
Can you share with us some of those discoveries?
Under the guidance of a personal counsellor, I understood that I was at an early stage with my problem. Actually, it was a very wise decision to seek for help. I was very open to my counsellor and honest with myself when it came to share about my childhood experiences and all my background to find out the cause of my misbehaviour.
It came clear to me that, since I lost my beloved mother when I was ten years old, I have been living unconsciously in a state of “loneliness” which I have been covering with a fake personality. I did not want to show that I was suffering from that loss. The social environment where I was brought up taught me that a man cannot weep for a loss. I had to hide it by all means.
This “loneliness” became a source of insecurity. In many other instances, I was feeling that nobody around me was sharing my interests. I was dying alone inside myself. I had to find a way out of this pain.
How would you summarise your inner self-awareness?
I am becoming an emotionally mature person. Loneliness is part of life, nothing catastrophic. The ones who groan, moan and wallow in self-pity will do the inappropriate thing, like drinking. Loneliness is painful, so is stomach-ache. Drinking may ease the pain but never eliminate it. I found myself in a situation whereby my alcoholism was not yet a “social-disease”. Through unconscious mechanisms, other people develop extra types of addiction to cope with their own frustrations.
How long do you plan to remain in Brazil?
It is already one year and a half since I left Mozambique. To be honest, I am not comfortable in moving from place to place. However, I believe that God is preparing me for something greater that will give sense to my mission. I was offered to stay another year in Fazenda da Esperança. I found it a bit long. But I also came to realise that I had to accept and take it as God´s providence for my good and that of the others. God loves me; He is offering me various opportunities to teach me about myself, to be stronger and serve Him better. Finally, I happily take it remembering the biblical statement I had chosen for my priestly ordination: “My grace is enough for you…” (2 Cor. 12: 9-10).
What is the general atmosphere of the Fazenda da Esperança?
The atmosphere is very conducive to regular personal reflections.
What would you say is the paradox of alcoholism?
Let us take an example. Drinking is a social act. The paradox is that the society that encourages drinking marginalises those who slips into alcoholism. This is how my drinking problem went underground.
Alcoholics suffer from rejection. More than the average individual, the alcoholic is naturally friendly and loving person. After a few drinks, he could be sociable, attentive, complimentary and talkative. His shyness would be overcome and he could relate more comfortably. Later, everyone´s hand is against him. The doors of employment or promotion are closed. His friends do not invite him around anymore. He may find the door of his own home or community closed. In his own eyes he becomes a man with no importance, a non-person consigned to oblivion, a prisoner in solitary confinement. This is another very common paradox.
What would be your recommendations?
When people think of an alcoholic, they refer to someone in his late stages of the disease: destitute, deadly ill, mentally confused, morally bankrupt and living only for alcohol. Yet, this deterioration began long before. In most cases it started years before any physical, psychological, spiritual or social damage become apparent.
Anyone who drinks alcoholic beverages is a potential candidate for alcoholism, for as long as he lives. A basic characteristic of alcoholism is that it is a progressive disease: it never gets better, only worse. However, since it can be treated, everybody, even non-drinkers, would be wise to know the signs and symptoms and at what stages they appear. This way they are better equipped to recognise it in themselves or in others. They become aware of how severe the problem is and how urgent it is at any stage of the disease (early, middle or late stage). The bottom line is that we should not delay seeking or providing help.
I am very happy with what I am going through. It was and still is an opportunity for growth. I am also grateful to my confreres who helped me to find a way out. May God bless you all!
I left my mission placement in Mozambique towards the end of 2011 for an anticipated home-leave in the DRCongo to find a way to treat my unbalanced drinking problem which was becoming alarming to myself and to the confreres. I was offered to go to Brazil for treatment at a rehabilitation centre for chemical dependents and alcoholics called “Fazenda d´Esperança”. It was founded by Father Hans Stapel, OFM, in collaboration with three lay persons; Nelson Giovanelli Rosendo, Iraci and Lucy. This organisation was officially recognised by the Pontifical Office of Laity after the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Fazenda on the 27th May 2007. I am here since August 2012 to deepen the program I started in February 2012 in Nairobi.
Was it easy to get a visa for Brazil?
No, it was not! I had to wait nearly a year to get it. This is why I was proposed to go to Nairobi to start the program. Our confrere Baptiste Mapunda helped me to get a place at the “Raphaelites Centre”. I went through a very intense therapeutic program whereby I learnt fascinating things about myself.
Can you share with us some of those discoveries?
Under the guidance of a personal counsellor, I understood that I was at an early stage with my problem. Actually, it was a very wise decision to seek for help. I was very open to my counsellor and honest with myself when it came to share about my childhood experiences and all my background to find out the cause of my misbehaviour.
It came clear to me that, since I lost my beloved mother when I was ten years old, I have been living unconsciously in a state of “loneliness” which I have been covering with a fake personality. I did not want to show that I was suffering from that loss. The social environment where I was brought up taught me that a man cannot weep for a loss. I had to hide it by all means.
This “loneliness” became a source of insecurity. In many other instances, I was feeling that nobody around me was sharing my interests. I was dying alone inside myself. I had to find a way out of this pain.
How would you summarise your inner self-awareness?
I am becoming an emotionally mature person. Loneliness is part of life, nothing catastrophic. The ones who groan, moan and wallow in self-pity will do the inappropriate thing, like drinking. Loneliness is painful, so is stomach-ache. Drinking may ease the pain but never eliminate it. I found myself in a situation whereby my alcoholism was not yet a “social-disease”. Through unconscious mechanisms, other people develop extra types of addiction to cope with their own frustrations.
How long do you plan to remain in Brazil?
It is already one year and a half since I left Mozambique. To be honest, I am not comfortable in moving from place to place. However, I believe that God is preparing me for something greater that will give sense to my mission. I was offered to stay another year in Fazenda da Esperança. I found it a bit long. But I also came to realise that I had to accept and take it as God´s providence for my good and that of the others. God loves me; He is offering me various opportunities to teach me about myself, to be stronger and serve Him better. Finally, I happily take it remembering the biblical statement I had chosen for my priestly ordination: “My grace is enough for you…” (2 Cor. 12: 9-10).
What is the general atmosphere of the Fazenda da Esperança?
The atmosphere is very conducive to regular personal reflections.
What would you say is the paradox of alcoholism?
Let us take an example. Drinking is a social act. The paradox is that the society that encourages drinking marginalises those who slips into alcoholism. This is how my drinking problem went underground.
Alcoholics suffer from rejection. More than the average individual, the alcoholic is naturally friendly and loving person. After a few drinks, he could be sociable, attentive, complimentary and talkative. His shyness would be overcome and he could relate more comfortably. Later, everyone´s hand is against him. The doors of employment or promotion are closed. His friends do not invite him around anymore. He may find the door of his own home or community closed. In his own eyes he becomes a man with no importance, a non-person consigned to oblivion, a prisoner in solitary confinement. This is another very common paradox.
What would be your recommendations?
When people think of an alcoholic, they refer to someone in his late stages of the disease: destitute, deadly ill, mentally confused, morally bankrupt and living only for alcohol. Yet, this deterioration began long before. In most cases it started years before any physical, psychological, spiritual or social damage become apparent.
Anyone who drinks alcoholic beverages is a potential candidate for alcoholism, for as long as he lives. A basic characteristic of alcoholism is that it is a progressive disease: it never gets better, only worse. However, since it can be treated, everybody, even non-drinkers, would be wise to know the signs and symptoms and at what stages they appear. This way they are better equipped to recognise it in themselves or in others. They become aware of how severe the problem is and how urgent it is at any stage of the disease (early, middle or late stage). The bottom line is that we should not delay seeking or providing help.
I am very happy with what I am going through. It was and still is an opportunity for growth. I am also grateful to my confreres who helped me to find a way out. May God bless you all!
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- Fr. Hans Stapel, OFM, Pierre Lukusa and Mr. Nelson Giovanelli Rosendo
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- Sessions of initiation to the spirituality of the Fazenda
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- Singing while waiting for meal
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- With Philipe, one of the young chemical dependents
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- Nuns from the Clarists Monastery
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- Last day of sessions of initiation
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- Visit to the national sanctuary; Our Lady of Aparecida
