I entered Guest House on May 20, 2008. Perhaps by Divine Providence, the following day was my 31^st anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Two weeks later I was assigned to be the presider at Mass. I began my homily by telling my brother priests: “This is the first time in fifteen years that I prepared a homily without an alcoholic drink next to my typewriter.” Did I always imbibe? No, but the drink had to be there just in case I needed it for security, inspiration, or simply because I wanted it.

During my time at Guest House, I came to realize that I had been an active alcoholic for many years longer than fifteen. The daily presentations, small-group discussions, and one-on-one sessions with my counselor were “eye-openers,” no pun intended. But Guest House did open my eyes to the fact that I needed to stop drinking and to stay stopped. I am now in my eighteenth consecutive year of sobriety.

Returning to the One True God

My three-month stay at Guest House was a time of spiritual renewal and the arresting of my need for this crutch—alcohol—in my priestly life. Guest House became necessary, in part, by the realization that I was disobeying the First Commandment [Exodus 20:2-3]. Alcohol became my “other god.” Guest House affirmed my obvious belief in the One True God and the salvation won for us by the Precious Blood of God’s Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, at Calvary.

One week after I entered Guest House, my bishop phoned me to ask how I was doing. He then asked me quite bluntly, “Andy, are you an alcoholic?” I replied that I am. He said he never suspected I had a drinking problem, nor was it ever brought to his attention. I hid it well from everyone, so I kept on drinking. He then affirmed his support for me and for the principles set forth at Guest House.