Throughout time it is evident that souls express an undeniable thirst to know God as wasAddiction is a defining problem of society, with physiological, and mental health components which must be addressed. Ultimately, however, the desolation, the abandonment and the guilt which are all ‘hallmarks’ of the addicted life, are in many ways spiritual problems which require a spiritual remedy.
recognized in Psalm 42: “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee,
O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” — Psalm 42:1
“Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart fromThe education and prevention portion of the iTHIRST Initiative provides programs that educate the Catholic community on the nature of substance-use disorders in age-appropriate language and demonstrate how our Catholic faith can be a powerful tool of prevention. These programs are geared toward helping our faith community develop a pastoral approach when treating those afflicted with substance-use disorders and assisting their families.
it.” — Proverbs 22:6
“Sowers of Seed”: The parable of the sower of seeds is found in each of the synopticIn the story, the seed tossed by the sower falls either on the path, where it is eaten by birds; on rocky soil, where it sprouts only briefly, then dies; among the thorns, where it perishes, or on rich soil, where it bears much fruit. Jesus explains that the “seed” is the Word, and where it falls represents one’s acceptance or rejection of it.
gospels (Matthew 13: 1-23, Mark 4: 1-20, Luke 8: 1-15).
“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; for he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.” — Sirach 6: 14-17The iTHIRST Spiritual Companion is a trained individual who provides spiritual support to those suffering from addiction, as well as their families and loved ones. This role is part of the iTHIRST Initiative, which focuses on addressing the spiritual aspect of recovery from substance use disorders.