Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

As a seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Chicago, I was blessed to have a number of wonderful opportunities. These experiences broadened my sense of ministry and gave me insight into the problems faced by many of my contemporaries.
 
One experience I remember while I was at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary was my two years of work at Lutheran General Hospital in the closed psychiatric unit. At that time, Lutheran General had a reputation for having one of the best alcoholic programs in the country. As a result, I encountered every conceivable incoming patient involved with chronic alcoholism. It totally destroyed the misconceptions I had fashioned in my mind about alcoholics. An alcoholic, in my stereotype, had been an unsuccessful, ignorant, sloppy person who was incapable of holding a job.
 
However, through the doors of the hospital, I met alcoholics who were heads of corporations, university professors, minsters and priests. These were men and women who had an illness that needed to be treated. As all diseases, it affected them physically, socially and spiritually. Not only did they struggle with their sobriety, but their families and friends struggled, and suffered with them.
 
Now, I must tell you that I am not a “teetotaler.” My family owned taverns, and moderate drinking was a part of family gatherings. It was always obvious that overdrinking could present problems, and repeated overdrinking was a problem.
 
In my years at Lutheran General, I would hear every story imaginable about why some people drink. Excuses that were given were perceived physical pain, a bad day, a good day, loss of a loved one or simply because it was available. These individuals were at the hospital because they were not managing their alcoholic intake, but rather alcohol was managing them. They could not say, “No.” Many were good people, people who were loved, but their families and friends could not stand watching them destroy themselves. Thank God that someone cared enough to intervene.
 
The great work of Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) offered many a new life, but always with an understanding that they were never cured from alcoholism. Rather, they would live with their disease for the rest of their lives. The most successful addressed their illness by focusing on their sobriety, committing themselves to family and friends and establishing a relationship with God (higher power). It is nothing short of a miracle to watch a life resurrected from the death grip of an addiction after treatment, and because of the resurrection, now reaches out to others.
 
This is Alcohol Awareness Month. More than 100,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes. 17% of men and 8% of women will be dependent upon alcohol in their lifetime. In 2014 alone, alcohol impaired driving fatalities accounted for almost 10,000 deaths. The numbers of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, drinking while pregnant impacting the child in the womb, continue to rise. A study in January of 2000 stated that 28.6% of children 0-17 are exposed at one time in their lives to familial alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse or both. The economic effect of alcohol problems in the U.S. exceeds $249 billion. One can see that the individual, family and society are all hurt by alcoholism.
 
I encourage anyone who suffers from alcoholism to seek help.  There are many treatment options available. Parish priests and parish staff will gladly assist anyone – just use the internet to find one closest to you. However, if you are a family member who lives with an alcoholic, there are support groups. Al-Anon is a well-known, national group. One which is local is Elevate Family Support Group, located N169W21005 Meadow Lane in Jackson, (262-677-2216), website www.elevateyou.org.

Our former Archdiocesan Communication Director, Julie Wolf, is the Associate Director of Elevate. For years, Julie edited and proofed my “Love One Another” (LOA). Her compassion for those suffering with addiction was well-known to me. Now, let us help those around us who are in need because we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the April 29, 2016 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.