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RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC

Priest helps clergy with addictions in Brazil

For nearly 30 years, Rev. William Tracy, CSsR, has devoted his life to saving members of the clergy from alcohol addiction at an innovative treatment center in South America. 

What many do not know is that the Redemptorist priest from the Albany Diocese struggled with alcoholism himself before beginning his ministry in Curitiba, Brazil.

Father Tracy will speak on his experience and his program, the New Life Community, at a dinner July 19 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Saratoga Springs.

He told The Evangelist that he hopes sharing his story will illustrate "how the good Lord prepared me for this mission by allowing me to suffer for 20 years the anguish and despair of my own alcoholism."

Heavy burden
Father Tracy, who grew up in St. Mary's parish in Ballston Spa, is adamant that "the feelings of shame and humiliation experienced by an alcoholic priest are enormous because being an alcoholic goes against everything a priest is supposed to be. It is a heavy cross to carry and the road to recovery is a long one."

He took the first steps to sobriety in 1978 following an intervention by the Rev. Francis Sullivan, CSsR, associate pastor of St. Clement's parish in Saratoga.

"I didn't know it then, but the seeds of my new life - a life of sobriety - would be sown when God sent a good and gentle friend to beg me to go for treatment for the disease of alcoholism," Father Tracy recalled.

After he found sobriety through 12-Step addiction recovery programs, the priest founded the New Life Community, the first intensive treatment program for alcoholics in Brazil. Modeled on Detroit's "Guest House," the New Life Community has thus far helped more than 1,000 clergy and laity.

The director described his creation as "a multi-tiered treatment center that includes a chapel with a view of the beautiful city park, an office, a dining room and six spacious dormitories with five beds each." 

Noting that alcoholism is a disease of isolation, he said the dorms are necessary "to promote socialization throughout the recovery period."

Behind the scenes
The staff receives direction from Sister Terezinha, a psychologist, whom Father Tracy refers to as "the brains behind the operation." Assisting her are additional psychologists, physicians, some former patients and volunteers from Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sister Terezinha has accompanied Father Tracy on his visit from Brazil, along with Neurivaldo Ribeiro, a teenager who became a legal ward of both the priest and the nun after he was orphaned as an infant.

One goal of the trio's testimony will be to raise funds to keep the New Life Community afloat. "We rely heavily upon and are tremendously grateful for the help we receive from supporters in the Albany Diocese," said Father Tracy.

Rich Gorman of the Saratoga Knights of Columbus said his 400-strong membership has held an annual fundraiser for the New Life Community for several years "because one of the principles of the K of C is charity. By supporting Father Tracy, we are fulfilling an obligation, strengthening the faith and providing assistance to the needy."

The Knights also donate chalices to priests who have received help at the New Life Community.

Father Sullivan said: "The importance of the New Life Community is all summed up in the name. The harvest is great in terms of the number of priests who have been restored to the ministry."

(K of C member William Joubert will be the chef for this year's dinner, July 19 at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25; call Rich Gorman, 885-3810, or John Touhy, 584-3472.)

(07/16/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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