“We cannot remake ourselves without suffering, for we are both the marble and the sculptor.”
- Alexis Carrel
Guest House Men's Treatment Program
A Place of Hope & Healing
Guest House’s program is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and is fully accredited.
For more information please contact us:
- Located in Rochester, Minnesota (Secure Private Facilities)
- Jeff Henrich,
Executive Director Men's Treatment Program - Call us at: 800-634-4155
- Email us at jhenrich@guesthouse.org
Overview
- Primary behavioral health and addiction treatment for Catholic priests and men religious
- Alcoholism, substance abuse-related services, medical assessment, intervention and treatment by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic physicians
- Compulsive Overeating and Weight Management Program: Guest House, the first addiction treatment program for clergy and religious in the world, brings almost 60 years of clinical expertise and experience to a new program for clergy and religious who are suffering from obesity and compulsive overeating. It offers an inpatient program of individual holistic treatment plans, treating the person in a multidisciplinary medically supervised context. It includes physical, psychological and spiritual components leading the client to a balanced way of life, allowing the fulfillment of their ministry.
- Wellness, exercise and nutrition programs with nationally recognized Rochester Athletic Club
- Psychological, spiritual and psychosocial components including utilization of the Mayo Clinic for medical services (priests and men religious).
- Comprehensive Evaluation Services Treatment An intensive, interdisciplinary, interpersonally-focused addiction and dual diagnosis treatment program.
- Quality Recovery Re- entry support and counseling.
- Continuing care and follow-up services. Consultation for community leadership, superiors and formation personnel.
Guest House’s Intervention Assistance Program is designed to help get someone started on the road to recovery. Its aim is to unmask the denial and help the priest, deacon, brother or seminarian admit there is a possible problem. This is the first step toward recovery. Ending denial requires considerable courage. But continuing denial makes recovery impossible.
The Guest House Intervention Assistance Program provides:
- Consultation, including assisting in information gathering and preparation—on site, if necessary.
- Telephone contact and support throughout the process.
- Personnel support during the actual intervention can be provided.
- Professional evaluation in an appropriate clinical setting.
- Recommendation of treatment options and/or escorting the man to a Professional treatment facility.
Effective treatment begins with a thorough understanding of the individual’s difficulties as well as the impact of those difficulties on his diocese or community.
Our professional assessment includes:
- A complete psychological test battery and clinical interview.
- A complete medical examination.
- A thorough psychosocial and spiritual history with particular attention to long standing patterns of difficulty.
- A comprehensive addiction screening process.
- A feedback conference with the client, his leadership, and the evaluating team to review the results of the assessment and discuss recommendations of the staff.
Information on program services, referrals and admissions is available 24 hours a day by calling: 1 800 634-4155
Referrals:
- Referrals may be made by authorized representatives of the diocese or religious community, primary treatment centers, physicians, other concerned individuals, or the priest, deacon, brother, or seminarian himself.
- The admission must be approved by the Bishop or religious leadership.
Admissions:
- Guest House will admit any man suffering from alcohol or drug abuse, and who is experiencing difficulties related to chemical use or is at risk of relapsing.
- Treatment will not be denied because of inability to pay.
- Admissions are scheduled by appointment.
- Those arriving by plane will be met at the airport by a Guest House staff member.
- For information please call: 800-634-4155
Treatment
Guest House is a State Licensed residential treatment center in Rochester, Minnesota. It has a licensed professional staff and is accredited. It offers alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and related services to priests, deacons, brothers, and seminarians from across the United States as well as around the world.
Services include:
- Comprehensive evaluation services, including psychological, spiritual and psychosocial components.
- Utilization of the Mayo Clinic for medical services.
- An intensive, interdisciplinary, interpersonally-focused treatment program.
- Three-phase continuing care and follow-up services.
- Consultation for community leadership, superiors and formation personnel
- Recovery Residence when recommended.
All our services are provided in collaboration with leadership. Treatment is provided without regard to a community’s ability to pay for services.
For more information please contact us:
- Call us at: 800-634-4155
- Fax us at: 507-288-1240
- Email us at jhenrich@guesthouse.org
Continuing care is an important element of effective treatment. Ongoing attention aids the client in the re-entry process by helping him to apply the skills learned in treatment to daily life. We offer three phases of on-site continuing care.
To further support ongoing recovery Guest House provides:
- A detailed description of ongoing supports needed.
- A therapeutic leave toward the end of the intensive program which allows the priest, brother deacon or seminarian to share his experience, needs and commitments to his recovery with significant persons in his community, family and ministerial life.
- When appropriate, a re-entry visit may be scheduled with the parish or religious community, the client and the therapist.
- Continuing care, for one week at Guest House in Rochester, conducted at six, twelve, and eighteen months post discharge.
Participation in the appropriate support system provides the priest, brother, deacon or seminarian, the opportunity to develop a mature appreciation of his strengths and vulnerabilities.
Our educational division provides a variety of services utilizing Guest House clinical staff and other experts across disciplines, depending on the requests of those we serve.
Presentations and Workshops:
- Addiction and Risk Management – An overview of addictive disorders
- Addiction and Trauma – Explores the relationship of addiction and personal trauma.
- The Impact of Addictions on Spirituality.
- The Intervention Process.
- The Evaluation and Treatment Process.
- The Role of Leadership in the Treatment Process.
Other Services include:
- Consultations
- Workshops and retreats
- Convocations
- Clergy study days
- Seminary presentations
- Personnel management training
- In-service presentations on policy and training for diocesan and religious institutions
- Distance learning on-line courses click here for our ONLINE LEARNING for a list of available courses
To schedule a presentation in your area or to learn more about educational opportunities please contact Colleen Richards at 800-626-6910
Twenty years ago some priests serving the Church in India contacted a former counselor from Guest House and asked for a treatment program for clergy suffering from the disease of addiction to be started in that country. Tom Garrett was the counselor and in holding true to the tradition of pilgrimage and mission of the Church began a program for clergy which he called Friendship House. The program was based on the tried and tested successful program of Guest House in the United States and adapted to the culture and values of India.
The bishop of the diocese of Mangalore was a very early supporter of the program and offered for the program to be located in a building on some land which the diocese owned just outside the city of Mangalore. Mangalore is in southern India, a port city on the Arabian Sea with a strong Catholic Church and culture.
Friendship House began more on values of service to heal clergy and restore them to ministry than anything else. There was certainly no money and as with Austin Ripley who founded Guest House almost 40 years before, it was through the tenacity, faith and courage of the founder that the program began treating clergy throughout India.
Guest House has been an integral part of this history. Through financial, logistical, managerial and moral support, Guest House been a lifeline for this program while encouraging it’s independence as a program by the Church in India for the Church in India.
Today, 20 years later it has the reputation of a successful program which has begun the healing for hundreds of priests and the restoration of their priesthood and service to the Church. There are two buildings now, one being the living quarters and chapel for the residents and the original building, the office and dining. The diocese of Mangalore with Bishop D’Souza as it’s Shepard has continued to be a wonderful support to the mission of Friendship House, as do many other dioceses in India.
Tom Garrett, J. Gerard O’ Connor and Bishop D’ Souza Bishop of Mangalore
Priests come to Friendship House from all over the country, both diocesan and religious, and usually stay for a period of 90 days. The program includes individual therapy as well as group therapy and is a 12 Step based program. The men attend meeting in Mangalore and at Friendship House. Once a year a reunion is held for graduates of the program, and in 2013 over 20 priests returned to Friendship
House to experience a week of fellowship, retreat and renewal.
The Catholic Church in India is growing and the number of vocations to the priesthood is increasing also. Over 14,000 seminarians are in training in India. There are more than 800 Indian priests serving the Church in the United States. The mission of Friendship House will continue to serve both countries in returning clergy to holy and healthy service.
For more information on support or to make a referral please contact:
Denise Bertin-Epp
President and CEO Guest House, Inc.
248-391-4445
J. Gerard O’ Connor
Mission Outreach
Guest House Liaison to Friendship House
248 391 4445
CONTACTS IN INDIA
Tom Garrett, Founder
Phone 04998278941
Boniface Andrade, Counselor Phone 04998278941
Maxim D’ Souza, Office Manager Phone 04998278941
ADDRESS
Friendship House
Mariashram, Talapady, Kunjathur P.O.
Kasaragod DT.- 671323, Kerala, India
Father Joseph, a Canadian Priest in recovery from alcoholism, helps others to recover and stay sober
Father Jerry Singleton's Testimonial
"As time went on and I began to become involved in the program at Guest House and attending several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, I began to realize that my obsession (with alcohol)...was beginning to vanish. This to me was a miracle and only through the grace of God, Guest House and AA did it happen. I always, to this day, treasure the gift of freedom that I got through recovery."
