In the meeting rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, it is often said: “AA saved my life.” I can say with all sincerity of heart as I celebrated 20 years of sobriety on March 13th, that: “Guest House saved my life!” The past year has been one of quiet reflection to be grateful for the wisdom of the founder of Guest House, Austin Ripley. He realized that priests and religious need to be prepared to enter AA and embrace recovery simply because we are used to having all the answers and being the caregivers.

I entered Guest House on Monday of Holy Week in 2005 after asking for help from my Bishop during my second detox in six months. It was a time that allowed me to receive the assistance I needed to come to terms with my alcoholism and learn about a new life free of alcohol with the daily help of God, ongoing Guest House support for alumni, and the rooms of AA.

Since then, Holy Week each year has had a profound meaning for me. I am thankful for the Lord’s help and to have that daily reprieve as a result of the firm foundation given to me by Guest House. In May of this year, I will celebrate 40 years as a priest with a humble reminder that without the assistance of Guest House, my life as a priest would have probably been over. I continue to exercise my ministry caring for two parishes, visiting the local detention center, managing an AA Club, which is open 365 days a year with three meetings a day, and serving as the Chaplain for the traveling carnival people through the Canadian Chapter of the Showmen’s League of America.