Juan Lopez

On March 8^th, 1956, young Rita Agnese Petrozzi felt a calling from God to enter a religious order, leaving her impoverished beginnings, her small Italian town, and her family behind. Arriving at the convent of the Sisters of Charity in Borgaro, Turin, Rita became Sr. Elvira, where she served the poor and served as a cook for her fellow nuns for 28 years. 

Sr. Elvira developed a strong affinity for young people during her tenure in Borgaro, especially those who were in the throes of addiction.  She watched them wandering aimlessly in the streets and in the piazze.  She understood that these young people were suffering from deeply rooted pain and were seeking to assuage this pain by numbing themselves through drugs and alcohol. Sr. Elvira was called by God to help!

On July 16^th, 1983, in a dilapidated house in the Italian countryside, Sr. Elvira(now known as Mother Elvira) established the first Comunita’ Cenacolo, where young people, suffering from addictions, would come to live in a humble Christian environment.  Here they would be transformed by prayer, hard work, personal sacrifice, and Christ’s ineffable love and mercy. 

Today, the Comunita’ Cenacolo (Cenacle Community) runs 70 houses in Europe, Central America, and the United States, serving the needs of this vulnerable and marginalized population, by giving their lives meaning and purpose.  Mother Elvira is truly an example of how one person, listening to her call from the Lord, can change the world for good!  Brava, Mother Elvira! May we all learn by your example!

I remember sitting in ‘my’ favorite pew at daily mass in my little home parish in the northwest corner of New Jersey, on October 4^th, 2016.  I was downtrodden, as a project that Brother Joe Dudek and I had been working on to serve those suffering from addictions, did not come to fruition, through no fault of ours.  I was dispirited, and the homily my pastor offered on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi rolled off my ears in the distance. It was then that I felt a ‘prayerful nudge,’ from Our Lady, and I felt a powerful and warm feeling of serenity overtake me.  As I stared at the crucifix, the words, “I THIRST” flooded my brain, but now, they were not only the 5^th of the last 7 utterances of Christ on the Cross, but they were also an acronym for: “The Healing Initiative – Recovery, Spirituality, Twelve Steps.”  Our Lady had given me my marching orders – “Bring this to pass”.  I wasn’t sure how this would happen, but I was certain that if Our Mother wanted it, it would happen.

Over the years, Mother Mary has been at the heart of everything iTHIRST.  She has guided us in our work writing the curriculum, that has now been taught to 130 people in 12 states and overseas.  She has guided our work ‘sewing the seeds of spirituality in the jails and in treatment facilities. Our Mother has guided us in developing aftercare and community-building programs for those in recovery and their families.  Our Lady is always at the forefront of everything we do.

There is no doubt that Our Mother has chosen the Missionary Cenacle Family in which to do this work for her suffering children.  Fr. Judge was devoted to her, and she was, after all, Our Lady of the Cenacle. As we move from May, a month dedicated to Our Lady, into the season of Pentecost and onto Trinity Sunday, I cannot help but think of the words of Fr. Judge, who wrote, “I pray to our Blessed Mother, the Queen of the Resurrection, the Mother of our risen, triumphant Savior, our Mother of the Cenacle, to bless you in your preparation for Pentecost.  I beg and beg of her, through the glory of her Son, to be with you in a special way over this blessed feast until Trinity Sunday.  May Holy Joseph help us in our preparation.”

Fr. Judge knew to turn to Our Blessed Mother for strength and guidance.  May we, in our work of iTHIRST, always remember to do likewise!

According to an article published on August 24, 2021, on WebMD, alcohol sales in the United States between March and September 2020 were, on average, 20% higher than that same time the previous year, undoubtedly fueled by the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Drug use and overdose rates rose nearly 30% in every state during that time, accelerated by the mandatory quarantine and isolation restrictions imposed to keep the population at large as safe from disease as possible. 

Now, as we emerge from many of the tightest Covid restrictions, and the country attempts a semblance of normalcy, there is a new trend emerging, especially among the young – “sober curious”.  These young people make a choice to abstain from alcohol for reasons not related to “recovery”.  Many are making healthier lifestyle choices, which often include choosing nonalcoholic beverages when they recreate.  Enter products like “Psychedelic Water,” which contains no LSD or psilocybin, but rather, kava root, used for thousands of years by Pacific Islanders for its calming effect.  Kava root, in combination with damiana leaves and green tea extract, provide Psychedelic Water with a formula that reduces anxiety while simultaneously providing a boost of energy.

The “sober-curious” movement is also driving sales of alcohol-free cocktails to new heights.  Last year, according to Nielsen, sales of non-alcoholic beverages increased 33% to $331 million.  While analysts predict that this trend will continue through 2022, we can only hope that this movement continues to steer younger generations away from alcohol, and toward healthier alternatives.  We’ll keep you posted!

Rosa joined the iTHIRST Team with the fourth Seton Hall cohort in the Fall of 2021.  She was first drawn to the work of iTHIRST after having read a feature article about it in the Seton Hall Alumni Magazine in the Spring of 2020.  As a woman in long term recovery herself, she was moved by the concept of the Church taking a more pro-active role in this great societal malady, and so she reached out to learn more.  Soon Rosa was participating in the weekly Parlor Meetings, and as a “Recovery Expert”, participating in the Seton Hall iTHIRST Service-Learning Programs.

Rosa’s passion for serving the marginalized and vulnerable motivated her to connect with two ITSCs who were already serving in her parish in Nutley, Melinda Papaccio and Cathie Viera. Today, the dynamic trio are already planning future iTHIRST events, including a lecture series which has already begun.

Says Rosa, “My training has equipped me with the necessary tools to gently lead those who are addicted and their families to a gentler place of compassion and peace. My experiences in my own addiction, and the plight of others I have seen in urban areas near where I work, have shaped me into His loving conduit. I am ready to help his flock!”  Thank you, Rosa, and God bless the work that you, Cathie and Melinda are doing in your parish and beyond!