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Welcome to Your New Life One drives up to a neat, simple home in the
suburbs. The door opens and the visitor is warmly welcomed into The House of Hope. This is the
home of Sister Janet Rolando, BVM, Sister
Kathryn Steger, OP, and Sister Lorraine Savage, OSF. It is also a gift they gladly have made
available since 1987: a supportive place of
transition for women religious who are in the early stages of recovery from alcoholism or chemical dependency.  Montana and founded a program in Oakland for women struggling with alcoholism. As her reputation grew in the field, she was asked to intervene with other women religious who were alcoholics. That is how she met Sister Lorraine and Sister Kate in the 1980s. Kate has always shared honestly about her experience of addiction. "There is guilt, loss of face, disbelief-a dark night of the soul. It was a turning point in my spirituality; I joined the company of sinners and was happy for it. I became real-and discovered that I was an ordinary person whom Jesus loves." The House of Hope began with a grant from the Archbishop's Fund for Sisters and support from each of the three congregations. The house in Hayward, California is its fourth physical location. Over the years Janet, Kate and Lorraine have provided a home for some thirty-five women religious from throughout the United States, three to five at a time. After a sister has completed primary treatment, she may come to the House of Hope and find group therapy, individual counseling, companionship at Alcoholics' Anonymous meetings, prayer and an understanding, supportive community. "A loving environment with other recovering sisters is key," said Sister Janet. "What we know from experience is that it takes a bit of extra time to deal with the feelings of anger, guilt and shame before returning to her ministry and her religious community. Not only do we feel blessed to be living in community with one another, but also we are glad to help other recovering sisters so that they can return to their work for the people of God." |
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