A gift of family resilience

We greatly appreciate the generous support you have shown Centacare Catholic Family Services in the past.

This year, we are celebrating Centacare’s 75th anniversary and looking forward to the canonisation of Blessed Mary Mackillop as we share a special connection. Our Alcohol and Other Drug Family Service is based at the Mary of the Cross Centre – Mary Mackillop’s birthplace. This service continues her proud tradition of caring for people at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

Caring for families in turmoil

Some of Centacare’s critical services such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Family Service face funding shortfalls. This service is distinct in the respect that we focus primarily on family members caught up in the turmoil that results from a loved one’s misuse of alcohol or other drugs.

The true value of this service can be measured by the stories that emerge of families’ journeys. This is the true story of one mother’s journey with her son – told in her own words.

Anne’s Story

“A dark cloud was hanging over our family.”

“When my son was living in squalor with other addicted people, wandering the streets and then going to jail, I felt quite despairing.

I had waited a long time to have my first child and I love my son so much. But I realised over this period that I just couldn’t trust him. It was almost like a death in our family but our son was still there in a sense, coming in and out of our lives... and sometimes disappearing. The whole time there was an overlay of despair, like a dark cloud was hanging over our family. It became a living hell and I had no education or life experience for dealing with this.

When this sort of problem hits your family, it’s not something that’s easy to discuss. All my friends were proudly talking about their children’s university degrees, new jobs, homes and cars. Meanwhile, my son was smashing up cars, obtaining food parcels and doing it tough. I felt quite shame filled and I couldn’t even tell my friends. It was really isolating.”

“I learnt to love him unconditionally.”

“Fortunately for me and my son, we came across Centacare’s Alcohol and Other Drug Family Service at the Mary of the Cross Centre. My son and I had shared shame and guilt. Now, I wonder where our lives would be today without this service.

Through counselling, my relationship with my son grew. I grew and so did he. I learnt to love him unconditionally and deal with his addiction. I became strong and the whole process became life changing for me, in many ways.

Through everything I learnt, I was able to stay connected to my son through the whole journey – but much less involved in his drug regime. One of the critical times was when he asked me to help him yet again. I had to tell him ‘I love you and care about you – but I can’t do this any more’. He says that was quite significant in persuading him to turn his life around.”

“He’s off drugs entirely.”

“Two years later, my life is so much happier now; my son is doing much better. He has a great job working outdoors, which he loves. He has a company car and responsibilities... and he’s actually growing in himself so he’s feeling a lot stronger and a lot happier. He’s off drugs entirely.

Now I work with other families going through a similar journey – and now I can help them as well – because of what I’ve been through.

The support, counselling and group work I did at the Mary of the Cross Centre helped me throughout all this and turned my ‘living hell’ into ‘a journey though life’. I will be eternally grateful.”

Please help us continue our Alcohol and Other Drug Family Service

Misuse of alcohol and other drugs is increasing. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, over the past ten years an average of 70 per cent of offenders tested positive to drugs (not including alcohol) at the time of arrest. Our service helps keep families together and minimises the fallout on everyone, including those family members battling an addiction.

With thanks for your support,

Fr Joe Caddy
Chief Executive Officer

PS Please remember your donation can enable us to continue to provide this critical service – and keep families together.

[ Click here to download donation form PDF ]