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| August 20, 2008 |
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Substance Addiction Ministry celebrates 10 yearsThe successful ministry has grown in scope and quality to become a national model for diocesan ministries. 
JASON COLLINS | FC NORTH PALM BEACH | Eleanor Simon often tells one of her favorite stories when talking about her parish ministry work to fight addiction and substance abuse, which is part of a diocesan effort getting national exposure. “An old man was walking on the beach with a child, and he saw a starfish on the shore,” she said. “The man picked up the starfish and put it back in the water. He told the child, ‘If you can help, just save one.’ … If we can help one person, it is all worth it.” Simon, a parishioner of St. Helen Parish in Vero Beach, has spent nearly a decade reaching out to adult addicts as part of the Diocese of Palm Beach Office of Substance Addiction Ministry, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. SAM, as the ministry is called, celebrated its anniversary with a gathering at St. Patrick Parish June 21. The day included lunch, networking, presentations and question-and-answer sessions. “It is good to share ideas and talk about what works and what doesn’t work,” said SAM director Erik Vagenius, who came up with the idea for the diocesan ministry based in parishes after his retirement to Palm Beach Gardens in 1994 from Rochester, Minn., where he was director of Guest House, a nonprofit residential treatment facility. SAM was launched July 1998 with one team at St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach. Today, the ministry has grown to 14 teams and is now is a national model for diocesan ministries. “I have helped launch a program in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and I am now helping with a program in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” said Vagenius, who sits on the board of the National Catholic Council on Alcoholism and Related Problems. “As a result of my affiliation with (the national council), our SAM program has been brought to national attention within our church.” Simon said her ministry work is rewarding, but it does have its moments. “Sometimes we get discouraged,” she told the Florida Catholic. “Sometimes the phone doesn’t ring, but then we will have three or four calls.” 
JASON COLLINS | FC “Our get-togethers are nice,” she pointed out about the annual gathering. “We all know the pain that comes from this. With the help of God, we are helping people. It is our message as Catholics.” Vagenius said that although the diocesan mission began with outreach to addicts and families touched by the problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse, today the ministry has grown to cover other areas of addiction, and the director wants to continue the expansion. “Over the next five years, I’d like to see parish SAM teams in about 30 parishes. … In reviewing some of the events of the past 10 years, the number of people we’ve been able to touch is indeed overwhelming,” said Vagenius, who points out that people affected by addictions don’t like to ask for help. “Hopefully many have responded to God’s healing grace,” he said. In 2002, the ministry had eight parish teams and turned its attention to children and education, teaching youngsters about the harm of substance abuse before they start experimenting with drugs, smoking and alcohol. “Creating awareness of alcohol and other drug problems with young students is paramount to preventing this universal illness,” said Vagenius. “Having parental involvement is essential to this educational program.” Today, Vagenius visits schools and gives presentations, and he encourages parish ministers to reach out to teens within parishes. “I like the fact that we have a dual role,” said Deacon Bob Pope, a group leader at Holy Name of Jesus in West Palm Beach. The SAM ministry formed there two years ago. NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTHA special Mass marking National Recovery Month is planned for Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick Parish, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito will preside. For information, call 561-626-8626. “We are focused on prevention and referring people to help. We are doing more prevention working with the youths. We hope to expand to reach the seniors,” he explained about education focused on making seniors aware of the harmful effects of mixing certain prescription drugs with others. At Holy Name of Jesus, “we show a video of a real-life situation. It is a real-life example. We let them talk. We don’t preach to them.” A special Mass planned for September at St. Patrick Parish will celebrate National Recovery Month. The SAM team members will be on hand and Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito will preside. “I had no idea of the expanse of SAM,” said Vagenius about the vision of the SAM ministry in the beginning. “I knew that parish teams would be in place, but really had no idea of the advocacy the diocesan SAM office would have. SAM could not exist without the ongoing support of our bishop, clergy and religious, the SAM team volunteers, and the generosity of people contributing to the annual Diocesan Services Appeal.”
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