iTHIRST Initiative

Recovery, Spirituality, 12 steps

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Exciting Grant News!

iTHIRST has been awarded a $200,000 grant in partnership with Catholic Extension, funded by the Lilly Foundation. This grant is specifically designed to bring Catholic faith-based recovery resources and spiritual consolation to rural communities across the U.S. and its territories.

With this funding, we will develop an iTHIRST app that will offer scalable recovery resources, spiritual reflections, and tools for establishing a multifaceted recovery ministry within parishes and beyond. Additionally, the grant will support 12 Spiritual Companionship Trainings in both English and Spanish over the next four years, as well as the creation of a specialized curriculum aimed at bringing spiritual consolation, hope, and healing to incarcerated youth.

We are deeply grateful to Catholic Extension for their partnership and for recognizing the profound impact of our mission!

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iTHIRST Africa

iTHIRST Africa – iTHIRST is thrilled to announce the launch of our first all-Africa iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship Training cohort, set to begin this fall! Participants from five nations—Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Cameroon, and South Africa—are expected to take part in this transformative program.

Our dedicated African team is actively recruiting for the class and eager to bring hope and healing to countless individuals across the continent.

A heartfelt thank you to Fr. Joseph Oganda, Lynn Tidgwell, and Irene Mutooni for their leadership and dedication in making this initiative a reality!

AFIDEV Community– The iTHIRST Team proudly supported the launch of the largest therapeutic community for drug and alcohol addiction in all of Western Africa, located just outside Abuja, Nigeria. Under the leadership of Frs. Vitalis and Athanasius—both certified iTHIRST Spiritual Companions—the AFIDEV Community officially opened this past fall after years of dedicated planning.

Here are photos showcasing some of the facilities, along with a special moment featuring the community’s first “homemate” completing his program. Surrounded by his peers, he received well-earned recognition for his journey and has returned home a transformed man!

A heartfelt thank you to our dear friend Jody Riscen, esteemed clinical director at Haven Health in New Jersey and a valued supporter of iTHIRST, for providing essential clinical guidance to our Nigerian team!

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Feb. 17th Webinar: JUBILEE OF HOPE: Finding Light in the Darkness of Addiction

Catholic in Recovery Webinar: February 17, 2025, 5pm ET Keaton Douglas & Scott Weeman

Register: https://catholicinrecovery.com/event/webinar250217/

  • Embrace the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” Gain spiritual tools to help you or your loved ones walk through the challenges of addiction with faith and courage.
  • Learn how to be a spiritual companion Discover how to offer support and hope to those struggling with addiction, while nurturing your own spiritual growth.
  • Practical and faith-filled insights Learn how dioceses, parishes, and communities can better serve those affected by addiction through the iTHIRST Initiative and Catholic in Recovery.
  • Find hope and healing With a focus on prayer, compassion, and community, this webinar will inspire you to trust in God’s transformative power.

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Keaton joins Darrin Nelson’s Podcast: Catholics Living Discipleship

I’m thriled to share this recording of my recent appearance on the Catholics Living Discipleship podcast with Darrin Nelson.   

I invite you to stream this episode exploring iTHIRST, and how parishes can spiritually accompany families afflicted with substance abuse. 

A note from Darrin: 

“In this podcast video I speak with Keaton Douglas, Executive Director and creator of iThirst. The iTHIRST Initiative is a comprehensive program which focuses on spirituality in the prevention, treatment, and aftercare of those suffering from substance use disorders and their families. The iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship (ITSC) Training, is a faith-based continuing education which instructs lay leaders and clergy on the spiritual dimension of addiction/recovery, certified through Seton Hall University. This is a wonderful way to broaden how we Accompany people along their life journey at parishes.”

–Darrin Nelson

Visit Catholics Living Discipleship website:

To view the episode on YouTube, click here.

Yours in the Most Holy Trinity,

Keaton

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Announcing iTHIRST’s Bereavement Ministry: The Community of Hope and Healing

Monthly Virtual Meetings 

Second Tuesday of the Month 

7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81314354460?pwd=2F7tgVbCwKwMiQJKxZmzfGHZgoOX53.1

MISSION: This ministry derives from the need to bring those who have lost a loved one to addiction together for fellowship and spiritual consolation. We grieve not only the loss of our loved one but also the fraught experience of that beloved’s time of addiction. Whether it involvesa substance or a behavior, the afflicted are often misunderstood, marginalized, and stigmatized.

When we grieve their loss, we often carry the pain of this with us after they have gone. We know that we benefit from sharing our unique experience and learning to see it from a spiritual perspective. We invite anyone who is grieving this kind of loss to join us for these monthly virtual meetings every second Tuesday of the month from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Eastern Time.

Bereavement Team:
Melinda Papaccio
Laurel Plumage
Lynn Tidgwell

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