WE DON’T HAVE “Git’m”
In the Language of Al-Anon

Fr. Terry R.

Wanting to change someone to solve our problems is our disease. The legacy of loving an alcoholic is that we learn that nothing will turn out. Instead we deny our anger and disappointments. And we become a sick member of the family without ever having taken a drink. Father Terry takes us on a journey of getting acquainted with our own wounds and frustrations. And he shows us how we can start healing without the cooperation of the alcoholic. Our recovery starts by changing ourselves. We don’t have to change history or someone else to heal. These talks are about how we change. And we no longer have to “git’m”. (05/11)

Observations About Our Journey

Fr. Tom W.

Fr. Tom brings us stories, and insights, sprinkled with humor about our spiritual journey in recovery. New to many, and a refresher course for old timers, Tom explores how we recover what we once thought was lost. He asks how well do we pay attention to the gifts we have been given? Do we take for granted the riches we have found in recovery? How can we open our hearts to the fullness of life? He explores the “...satisfactions of right living…” from the “12 & 12”. He talks about recognizing feelings, and reminds us that being uncomfortable is not necessarily bad. Tom shares practical techniques for prayer and meditation using our own daily reader as another way to improve our conscious contact with God. (01/11)

You Start With Hello

Fr. Tom W.

When we get here, we are completely out of our comfort zone. And we say hello and an entire new way of life opens up to us. Fr. Tom shares many stories about our new relationships with friends, companions, allies, and sponsors. He talks about the things we can change, and those we cannot. He talks about guilt and shame, self loathing and self acceptance. He discusses defects of character and the daily reprieve we receive through the steps. He talks about the “Rules of the World” and how we need to break them when we come in to recovery.

In recovery we learn skills on how to develop loving relationships. We learn how to identify safe people, and we learn how to be a safe person. We make the connections with others through the things we share. Go to meetings and say hello to people and develop wonderful friendships. Say hello to a Higher Power and receive grace. We learn these new behaviors and go from existing to living. (09/10)

Control Is Our Drug
In The Language of Al-Anon

Fr. Tom W.

Alcoholism is a family disease, and those of us who love an alcoholic often become spiritual and emotional casualties. We come to the program as survivors, but don’t know how to live. Instead, we have become highly skilled at reading others. In these talks, Tom reminds us that we need to focus on what is life giving to us. We need to surrender control of people, places and things. Fr. Tom shares useful tools to help us detach with love and change our attitudes and behaviors to find the peace and sanity we seek. Prayer and meditation helps to keep the focus on ourselves and Tom leads us on a lovely guided meditation. 05/10

The Principles Of The Program

Fr. Tom W.

“….and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Understanding the principles of the 12 Steps can be very difficult, abstract or very simple. Father Tom talks about incorporating these principles into our daily lives. He makes abstract ideas very simple and practical. Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Love, Justice, Perseverance, Spirituality and Service. These twelve principles are the spiritual basis behind each of the Twelve Steps. Fr. Tom shows how employing these behaviors in our daily lives can be an enriching experience.

Naming Our Addictions: A Spirituality of the 12 Steps

John McAndrew

This weekend retreat was designed for people in recovery, for those who love them and anyone interested in learning more about the disease of addiction and a spirituality that offers healing and empowerment on the road to permanent recovery. John McAndrew looks at the nature of the 12 Step spiritual practice and its application to the disease of addiction. These inspiring talks discuss both substance and process addictions, denial, codependency and acceptance. Naming the addiction is how we begin to acknowledge and touch the ‘wounds to the soul’, those places where we are most heavily defended and also most vulnerable and accessible to God. With the 12 Steps and meditation, John shows us how it is possible for us to change our behaviors and our lives. (03/10)

Living in the World of Recovery

Fr. Tom W.

In these warm and delightful talks, Fr. Tom Weston shares with us that ours is not a self help program. If it were, we would have fixed ourselves long ago. Instead, living in the world of recovery, we learn to ask for help in the Program. And Fr. Tom shares with us that it is a great spiritual accomplishment to ask for help when we need it. And when something spiritual happens, change occurs for us. Fr. Tom talks with us about learning how to trust again. And about the many aspects of willingness in living in the world of recovery. And he shows us how to keep sane when those around us are going crazy. And Fr. Tom gives a wonderful guided meditation using The AA Promises. (09/09)

The Joy of Living

John McAndrew

The practice of the 12 Steps makes us ready to receive the gift of emotional sobriety. In this exploration of Step 12, John McAndrew guides participants in reflections on “the joy of good living”. Focusing on the spiritual journey, topics include: learning to pay attention, why finding the right question is more important than getting all the answers, the importance of remembering, and the practice and gift of meditation. (06/09)

Steps On The Road To Sanity
In the Language of Al-Anon

Fr. Jim H.

What do we do when our loved ones are on a roller coaster? What happens when the people around us make profoundly poor choices? Fr. Jim Harbaugh gently shows us that we don’t have to give up on our own hopes and dreams. And that we are not responsible for other people’s choices. These talks describe how character defects are also assets applied backwards. And he explains that when we obsess, all growth stops. And he shows us how we can change, using the Steps.

Through his wonderful gift of telling stories, Fr. Jim reminds us that our Higher Power is not limited by our own lack of imagination. And that through the Program we are restored to sanity. (05/09)

We Don't Have to Wait
In the Language of Al-Anon

Fr. Terry R.

A freeing discovery in Al-Anon recovery is the awareness that we don't have to wait until the Alcoholic stops drinking. Our journey of liberation begins in working the 12 Steps in companionship with others now. Before recovery we waited. We waited for the alcoholic to change. We waited to see if our efforts worked or didn't work. We waited for the other shoe to drop. We waited for our prayers to work. When we live in recovery we get to respond to life in a sane and normal way. In recovery our head and heart are transformed by a fresh faith. (10/08)

Beyond Our Imagination: Growing Up with the 12 Steps

Fr. Jim Harbaugh

In recovery, our experiences and lives are so much greater than our imagination could ever have thought of Fr. Jim Harbaugh reminds us of this through his descriptive stories when taking us through the Steps. As we take the Steps we become restored to sanity. Fr. Jim shares with us what the 12 signs of sanity look like. Having had an addiction or in living with addiction we stopped growing. The theme of these wonderful talks is about growing up morally in recovery. Fr. Jim shows us what a moral grown up looks like – and the 3 things that a moral grown up does. He discusses how, using the Steps, we advance from shame to guilt. He shows us how shame is not useful, but surprisingly guilt is. Throughout these talks we realize that a power greater than ourselves is at work. 09/08

For Families and Friends of Alcoholics
In the Language of Al-Anon

Fr. Tom Weston

Alcoholism is a family disease, and it takes a long and deep toll on those who love alcoholics, work with alcoholics, are related to alcoholics, and who have been on an emotional roller coaster with them. Whether the alcoholic is one of our parents, or spouse, one of our children, or a co-worker we need support and refreshment and recovery. This weekend looks at the tools and treasures of Al-Anon. The Al-Anon basics. How can we use these basic tools to change our attitudes and behavior to find the peace and sanity we seek.(9-08)

Grace - A Power Greater Than Ourselves

John McAndrew

The struggle to let go of old ideas often makes it difficult to receive the new gifts of recovery. In these retreat reflections, John McAndrew considers how the 12 Steps can guide us to new attitudes and behaviors. Grace- an undeserved gift- paves the way into this new way of living. It's about forgiveness, about a God of your own experience, about music and poetry and beauty and brokenness and failure, about "what is", about gratitude and laughter and serendipity and the full reception of all the gifts we have received. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see...Everything is grace! (8-08)

One Day at a Time - but are the days too long?

Fr. Tom W.

These new talks focus on the transformative power of the 12 steps. Fr. Tom emphasizes practical, day to day applications of the spiritual principles of the Twelve Steps. Simple formulas are explored for “turning it over”, “let go and let God” plus spiritual activities for prayer and meditation. We are often told recovery is a “program of action”, but where do we start or in some cases restart? These new talks are Tom Weston at his best. A humorous and enriching experience. (06/08)

Are These Extravagant Promises?

John McAndrew

The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, is full of promises for recovery— not only the “12 Promises” we often hear at meetings. Join John McAndrew and a group of recovering souls for a weekend of discovery in an open-book exploration of the multitudinous Promises found throughout our primary text—especially the greatest promise of all: that God could and would if He were sought!

Are We Willing To Be Willing?

Fr. Tom W.

In these series of talks Fr.Tom shares how to live through difficult times using the tools of the program. Do we sometimes feel disconnected from our Higher Power? How to make that conscious contact with your Higher Power easier with the “switch”. He talks of connecting with people rather than “using” people….sharing our experience, strength and hope. Are we willing to let change happen? Are we willing to be willing? What can we expect if we willingly surrender ourselves to the spiritual discipline of the 12 Steps? These and many other questions about recovery are explored in this series of talks. 01/08

Usefulness

John McAndrew

John McAndrew reminds us that sharing our stories, even our darkest moments of "uselessness", allows God to make us more useful. The very things that brought us shame become transformative. Even our character defects become useful treasures. Grief and loss, which can isolate us, can be avenues of redemption. This is the transformation of self that we experience in the program.

In these sessions, John shares his own spiritual journey and discusses topics such as humility, spirituality and sexuality in the context of the 12 Steps. And he reminds us that through prayer and meditation, we are given the strength and courage to do all that is possible, so that God can do what God does best: the impossible. (08/07)

Fr. Tim Meier

Fr Tim looks at the baggage we’re lugging around, and how to lighten the load by applying the Twelve Steps in a humorous fashion. To often recovery can seem to be a matter of “heavy does it” rather than “easy does it”. Most of us arrive at our first meeting looking a bit bedraggled, to say the least. Many of us carry incredible burdens of shame, fear, abuse, sadness, loss, anger, and resentment when we arrive here, so being “perky” is probably not big on our hit parade. Too often we gravitate towards others who are painfully aware of similar burdens but have never learned how to play, how to laugh. Laughter, especially at ourselves, really is the best medicine. 8/05

"…Act, Don’t React"

Fr. Tom Weston

We arrive in Al-Anon exhausted, angry and full of grief. We soon discover our obsessions over others don’t lead to freedom. And our ways of relating to others don’t change, just because the drinking and using stop. What a surprise. Fr. Tom talks about dealing with obsessive thoughts and “the rules of crazy families” that get in our way as adults. He takes us on a journey where we learn to live our own lives and foster our own growth in Al-Anon. Some of the ways Tom shows us how to do that are by developing self acceptance, being comfortable with enough, and also changing our perspectives. We learn a new way of life in recovery. We learn how to act, rather than react. (5/05)

"…Our Journey From Fear To Faith."

Fr. Terry R.

Father Terry R talks about our “fear problems”. And he describes how we are able to move from fear to faith as a result of doing the Steps of the Program. And as this occurs, we are drawn in to surrender. And at the same time, our idea of what surrender is changes.

Fr. Terry describes in his humorous and disarming style what happens when love and accountability come together in recovery. Can we do the Steps imperfectly?. Writing a sexual inventory? Why do we continue to go to meetings? How does our notion of God grow? These powerful and compelling talks are rich with insights that will enhance your program and your life. (9/05)

Patrick Mullin

Our spiritual program is fundamentally about service and improving our relationship with our Higher Power. Father Patrick Mullin, in these powerful talks, provides an opportunity to truly reflect on what God has done for us, and experience the soul deep satisfaction of being aware of God’s presence in our lives. He talks about the “slender threads” in AA history where events could have been different, thus causing us to reflect on the “slender threads” in our own sobriety. Father Patrick’s talks offer an opportunity to renew an authentic and deep appreciation of the miracle that has occurred in our life, and of the awareness of the gift we may be to others in sobriety. This is the miracle of divine presence always available to us. 6/06

Fr. Tom Weston

Just what is a spiritual awakening? If someone has been touched by the Spirit what changes can be expected? How do we progress from Step One to Step Two? Fr. Tom talks about God as you understand God and the many different points of view and experiences. He talks about the original Six Steps initially used in Akron, Ohio which later became the Twelve Steps. Fr. Tom explores Steps Six and Seven and the underlying concept of self acceptance. Character defects might always be there. But the program gives us new tools to accept them and experience freedom. (01/06)

Fr. Tom Weston

Father Tom takes us on a journey through Steps 10, 11 and 12. Using AA's "12 and 12" as a guide, he explores Step 10. He shares his ongoing personal experiences with Step 10 and the role of character defects. The Big Book tells us with Step 10 our sanity has returned. The process of looking at our character defects and our wrongs, that we began examining with the 4th Step, continues with Step 10. Just how do we maintain the new state of serenity and freedom we have achieved? As recovering people God's will for us includes the removal of character defects. The 12th Step speaks to a "spiritual awakening"...what happens when we "wake up"? How do you spot the real stuff when it comes to spiritual experiences along the spiritual path? The results can be dramatic, but can take place over a long period of time. (12/04) (5/04)

Fr. Tom Weston

Throughout all situations God is at work. "AA is not a personal success story. It is a story of our colossal human failures now transformed into the happiest usefulness by the living grace of God." A day at a time we ask for God’s help. Fr. Tom explores questions such as what is God’s will for us. Tom explores the important self knowledge we gain from the 4^th Step. Every person has the opportunity to develop a spiritual life. Through time and experience, trial and error, we get better at the 11^th Step. Fr. Tom explores, in detail, the different method of prayer. He goes on to suggest various ways of meditation as a way of putting ourselves in God’s presence. And he explores ways we can invite our Higher Power into our meditation. (5/04)

"…God Could and Would If He Were Sought."

Fr. Terry R.

"A time to get in touch with God’s Gift." That is how Fr. Terry begins this exploration of the Steps. How do we recognize, and identify the work of God thru Grace? What does it mean to "work the program"? What does it mean to seek God? These and other questions are explored by Fr. Terry. He explores the changes that occur in our hearts. Only after God surprises us by lifting our addictive behavior do some of us realize that in the beginning we had not been seeking God at all. But with openness and willingness God draws us in. We learn to identify with others. With every "yes" in a spiritual conversation we experience a different quality of satisfaction. The power and benefit of doing an inventory, discerning God’s will, are but a few of the topics you’ll hear Fr. Terry explore. (5/04)

#D0304 6 CD $42.75

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Letting Go…Letting God

Fr. Terry R.

What a surprise most of us had when we discovered how tight a grip we had on how other people, places, and things had to be in order for us to have a life. Fr. Terry explores what happens through the Al-Anon program as we loosen that grip, we are surprised again by how our simple responses to 12 Step Suggestions have such a synergetic effect with God’s Grace and God’s laws, and we often start recovery when God appears to fail us…when we have hit bottom. Fr Terry talks about surrender…what is surrender? He explores the 12 steps and personal transformation that occur. These talks encourage healing for anyone touched by the disease of addiction or any family dysfunction. (6/04)

#D0305 6 CD $42.75

#A0305 6 Cassette $42.75

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Taking Time for Reflection
Father Tom W..

"...Progress not perfection..." Fr. Tom explores with us the spiritual journey those of us in recovery have embarked on. Part of recovery and having a healthy spiritual practice is learning how to slow down and take time for reflection. These talks offer an opportunity to explore how we work the Steps in our lives. Fr. Tom shares with us some of his reflections on love and ways of knowing God's will for us. He explores with us how to look at our own behavior, feelings and defects of character as a way to see how God works with each one of us. Excellent for newcomers...inspirational for old-timers...Tom Weston at his best. (1/03)

#D0139 CD $42.75

#A0139 Six Cassettes $42.75

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We Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Father Tom W..

In these wonderful talks recorded August 16, 2002, Father Tom Weston reminds us that we aren’t alone. With a power greater than ourselves, Step 2, and reaching out to others in the program, Step 12, we continue to get better. And we get to do things differently, with altered attitudes.

Through his many stories, insights, and a lot of humor, Fr. Tom reminds us that we don’t have to live alone with our conflicts. And we can even look forward to a daily reprieve from our craziness when we remember to ask for God’s help.

Fr. Tom talks with us about learning how to tell our stories and also learning how to listen to the stories of others. And Fr. Tom shares new stories with us. As Fr. Tom reminds us, when someone who has been there talks to someone who is there - grace flows. We really do need God’s help and each other. In recovery everything changes, if we let it. (10/02)

#D0138 CD $42.75

#A0138 Six Cassette $42.75

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The Steps Help Us Have Real Lives: In the Language of Al-Anon
Father Tom W..

Father Tom asks us “Are we a role model or a warning?” Before finding Al-Anon we have the tendency to run the lives of everyone else. This is a useful way of not knowing what is going on in our own lives. We can get addicted to the adrenaline and the drama. And when we finally get to Al-Anon, we are exhausted.

Father Tom talks about the steps and the tools of the program, which allow us to find out who we are and what we want to do. We all come in to the program as skillful survivors. And he reminds us that we need to learn to be grateful for those skills we developed, and then to be willing to let go of those that no longer serve us. And Father Tom shares with us how to learn some new skills to go from survivor to someone who’s fully alive. (5/02)

#D0137 CD $42.75

#A0137 Six Cassette $42.75

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Our Footwork, God's Grace
Father Tom W..

Father Tom W. has been involved with people in Twelve Step programs since 1976. A former Director of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and a teacher, he has degrees in counseling, education and theology. He lectures, counsels, and conducts workshops and seminars internationally.

In recovery, we continue to grow emotionally and spiritually. Gather Tom helps us to look at our own behavior and at the ways we may be more available to our Higher power working in our lives. Are we cooperating with God? He offers many suggestions of practical footwork on recovery, from praying and meditition, self acceptance, and what to do when we are stuck, angry or discouraged with our own progress. Father Tom discusses what about our behavior may get us in to trouble and lead us to despair. And he helps us to understand what may ge going on when we are running low on faith and hope, discusses what it means to be in consolation and desolation, and suggests ways of dealing with this. Father Tom enlightens us with how introverts and extroverts communicate and shows us how this worked between Bill W. and Dr. Bob in the beginning days of AA. And Father Tom shares his personal experience in dealing with the events of September 11th. These wonderful tapes offer insight, inspiration and hope for all of us. (11/01)

#D0135 CD $42.75

#A0135 Six Cassette $42.75

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Making Peace with Ourselves as Adult Children of Alcoholics
Father Tom W..

How can we learn to view our lives with compassion and love when we grew up in alcoholic or crazy homes? How can we not be frozen in denial or consumed by anger and grief? Father Tom describes how applying the Twelve Steps of ACA can enable us to avoid repeating our past and to truly transform our lives. He offers some practical techniques to recognize, identify and experience our feelings. And he shows how to avoid managing, manipulating, martyring, and mothering, so that we can make peace with ourselves and with others. Many of us have black belts in survival, but can we truly live life fully? The answer in these inspiring talks is a resounding YES! (8/97)

#D0132 CD $42.75

#A0132 6 Audio Cassette Album $42.75

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A Fresh Look at Recovery
by Father Tom W..

Father Tom takes a fresh look at recovery for people whose lives are on the line. In this inspiring retreat held near the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonybous, Father Tom describes how Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson built the practical and spiritual tools that continue to save our lives every day. He demystifies the steps by describing how they were developed and offering a number of practical techniques to do them. How do we move from despair to hope, from lonliness and isolation to a rich, new live with service to others? Father Tom talks about depression and other things that can get in our way, and he discusses the roles of therapy and medication. There are many rich stories of the early days, but mostly these talks are about how we can work our program today and live our lives with richness, with hope, and in community with others. (6/99)

#D0133 CD $42.75

#A0133 Six Cassette $42.75

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Changing the things We Can
Father Tom W..

Beginning with the Serenity Prayer, Father Tom shows how the shift in focus of the Al-Anon program can bring profound healing in our lives. Through his own experiences, and a wealth of literature, he shows how we waste our energy trying to control people and situations, and how we can use the Program to change our attitudes and behavior to find the peace and sanctity we seek. These talks are full of wisdom, humor and practical information about working the steps, using a sponsor and being one, a simple way to journal, and some wonderful ways to say "no". And by describing his own craziness, he shows us how we can have love and compassion for ourselves as we continue to obsess, make mistakes, falter and grow. (9/00)

#D0134 CD $42.75

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There's More to Quitting Drinking Than Quitting Drinking
by Dr. Paul O.

Dr. Paul is well known in the AA community as a compelling speaker and writer, especially for his widely quoted writings on acceptance. And he's contributed the wisdom gained in his thirty years of recovery to this wonderful book. In addition to the original printed version, we now have it available on tape in a spirited reading by Father Tom.

This book is for the recovering person who wants more than physical sobriety -- who wants mental, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual sobriety. Dr. Paul offers his prescription in an honest, down-to-earth way. he describes why alcoholism is a disease -- not a symptom of a psychiatric problem -- and who gets it; how to build better relationships with some powerful communications techniques; why and how to give up guilt -- without feeling guilty; and how to make acceptance the cornerstone of recovery.

#D0502 CD $31.75

#A0502 4 Audio Cassette Album $31.75

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Rebuilding Our Lives One Day at a Time
Father Tom

Father Tom leads us on an inspired odyssey from the depths of our despair while drinking and using, to the heights of the spiritual awakenings available for all of us in recovery. How can the tools of the Program help us open our hearts to embrace the fullness of life? How can we learn to love and accept ourselves and others? He offers practical suggestions for doing an inventory, making amends, and becoming aware of the choices and power we have in our lives. And he shows how we can develop a spiritual practice which will nurture us, guide us and help us find serenity and peace. (1/97)

#D0130 CD $42.75

#A0130 6 Audio Cassette Album $42.75

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Learning to Live and Let Live
Father Tom

Do you find yourself entangled with people who make you nuts? Then these tapes may be just what you need. In these talks, Father Tom shows us how to learn to live fully through the steps and slogans of the AlAnon program. How do we release others with love, feel all of our feelings, and connect with our Higher Power? How can the slogan "Live and Let Live" bring new life to our recovery? He offers a guided meditation to help us release the people we're concerned about to our Higher Power. These talks are a valuable resource to help us live more effectively with ourselves and those we care about. (9/97)

#D0131 CD $15.75

#A0131 2 Audio Cassette Album $15.75

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Welcome to InLight CDs and Tapes on Recovery!