Skip to content
  • Mass Time Finder
  • Parish Locator
  • Donate
  • Search
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • The WINDOW Newsletter
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Pilgrimages
    • Workshops & Seminars
  • Faith
    • About the Catholic Faith
    • People of Mission
    • Advent & Christmas Resources
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Confirmation
      • Eucharist
        • About the Mass
      • The Sacrament of Marriage
        • Steps to Getting Married
        • Marriage Preparation
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
    • Chapel of Perpetual Adoration
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
    • Administration & Offices
      • Accounting and Finance
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
      • Building Services
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Cemeteries
    • Indigenous Relations
      • Catholic Truth and Reconciliation Resources
      • Delegation To Rome – Spring 2022
      • Walking Together: The Papal Apology and Visit of Reconciliation – July 2022
      • Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
        • Grant Application – Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
      • Residential Schools
    • Safe Environment & Abuse Prevention
      • Report Abuse
      • Called to Protect
      • Volunteer Management
    • Youth & Young Adults
      • Activities
      • Camp
      • Schools & Colleges
      • World Youth Day
    • Life & Family
      • Marriage Enrichment
      • Family Planning
      • Grief
      • Courage – Encourage
      • Divorced and Re-married
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations
      • Ecumenical Annual Reports
    • Social Justice
      • Interfaith Housing Initiative
      • No Room in the Inn
      • Development & Peace
    • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
      • Pastoral Care Visitors
      • Chaplains
    • Prison Ministry
    • Papal Blessings
    • Our Lady of Victory Camp
  • Get Involved
    • Find a Career
    • Serve on Parish Council
      • Together in Ministry
    • Homebound & Hospital Visits
      • Pastoral Care Certificate
  • Vocations
    • Priesthood
    • Permanent Diaconate
    • St. Joseph’s Seminary
    • Vocations
    • Consecrated Life
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Together We Serve
      • How Gifts are Shared
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Resources for Parishes
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraising Events
    • Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop
    • Offices & Staff
    • Pastoral Letters
    • Messages & Homilies
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Hope & Dignity: A Catholic Response to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
    • Synod
    • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About
    • Parishes & Mass Times
    • History
      • Coat of Arms
      • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
      • Past Bishops
    • Archives & Records
    • Priests
    • Consecrated Orders
    • Retreat Centres
    • Councils & Committees
      • Lay Associations
    • Schools & Colleges
    • Offices & Staff
    • Careers
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Annual Reports
    • Twin Diocese
  • Contact
  • Find a Mass, Parish, or Priest
  • Mass Time Finder
  • Donate
  • News
    • News
    • Events
    • The WINDOW Newsletter
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Pilgrimages
    • Workshops & Seminars
  • Faith
    • About the Catholic Faith
    • People of Mission
    • Advent & Christmas Resources
    • Sacraments
      • The Sacrament of Marriage
        • Marriage Preparation
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist
        • About the Mass
      • Confirmation
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
    • Chapel of Perpetual Adoration
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
    • Administration & Offices
      • Accounting and Finance
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
      • Building Services
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Cemeteries
    • Indigenous Relations
      • Catholic Truth and Reconciliation Resources
      • Indigenous Delegation to Rome – Spring 2022
      • Papal Visit
      • Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
      • Residential Schools
    • Safe Environments & Abuse Prevention
      • Report Abuse
      • Called to Protect
      • Volunteer Management
    • Youth & Young Adults
      • Activities
      • Camp
      • Schools & Colleges
      • World Youth Day
    • Marriage Enrichment
    • Family Planning
    • Divorced and Re-married
    • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations (Private)
      • Ecumenical Annual Reports
    • Social Justice
      • Development & Peace
      • Interfaith Housing Initiative
      • No Room in the Inn
    • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
      • Chaplains
      • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
    • Prison Ministry
    • Papal Blessings
    • Our Lady of Victory Camp
  • Get Involved
    • Careers
    • Together in Ministry
    • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
      • Pastoral Care Certificate
    • Become a Volunteer
  • Vocations
    • Priesthood
      • St. Joseph's Seminary
    • Permanent Diaconate
    • Consecrated Life
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Together We Serve
      • Resources for Parishes
      • How Gifts are Shared
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Legacy Giving
    • Faith, Fitness, and Fun Run
    • Newman Golf Classic
    • The Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop Richard W. Smith
    • Offices & Staff
    • Pastoral Letters
    • Messages & Homilies
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Hope & Dignity: A Catholic response to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
    • Synod on Synodality
    • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
    • Parish & Mass Times
    • History
      • Coat of Arms
      • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
      • Past Bishops
    • Priests
    • Consecrated Orders
    • Councils & Committees
      • Lay Associations
    • Schools & Colleges
    • Offices & Staff
    • Careers
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Financial Reports
    • Archives and Sacramental Records
    • Twin Diocese
    • Retreat Centres
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
Parishes & Mass Times
Find Clergy
Donate
Become a Volunteer

Latest News

All News

Local family invests everything into founding global Catholic media mission

A Vegreville family has started a media ministry focused on making Catholic prayer and the Holy Mass accessible to people…
Continue Reading

Upcoming Events

All Events
Treasures of the Faith - Nov. ...
2023-11-30
St. Joseph's College Speaker S...
2023-11-30
OPEN HOUSE at Newman Theologic...
2023-11-30

Pastoral and Administration Offices

Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday
780-469-1010
1-844-469-1010 (Toll free)
780-465-3003
8421 101 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T6A 0L1

Together We Serve: A helping hand at the rock bottom

22 March 2017

Appears in: Archdiocesan News

“I came out of jail in November with nothing. I probably would have hit the street doing the same old thing. Now I have an opportunity. Catholic Social Services gave me a chance to be productive and start over again.”

Grant battled with his substance addiction for 15 years while living overseas. Six months after he became sober, he returned to Canada and relapsed into old habits.

After attending rehabilitation for two months, Grant moved into the Alpha for Men ministry, operated by Catholic Social Services as a safe space that empowers men to further pursue a sober lifestyle.

Residents in the Alpha house can live there for up to one year, during which they are expected to maintain employment or enroll in classes, establish themselves in the community, and build new relationships that are not dependent upon or connected to substance use.

“CSS helped me go from rock bottom to where I am now,” said Grant, who stayed at Alpha house for 11 months. He now has a full-time job and is in a relationship. “I wanted to have my family back, and also prove to myself that I could give something positive to the community. I found myself going from an angry person to very docile.”

He added that Alpha “gave me the opportunity to become the person I am. It gave me the strength to deal with things I’ve never dealt with in my life. I’ve not only become a cleaner person, but a better person – even better than who I was before I started drinking.”

Your gift to Together We Serve supports Catholic Social Services in its mission to care for and bring hope to people in need with humility, compassion and respect. Thank you for your generosity!

You can make a difference by donating through your parish, or directly online.

*Grant’s name has been changed to protect his identity, and his image is not portrayed in the above photo.

Tags:

Catholic Social Services Together We Serve

Recent Posts

  • Archdiocesan News

    Local family invests everything into founding global Catholic media mission
    November 29, 2023

    A Vegreville family has started a media ministry focused on making Catholic prayer and the Holy Mass accessible to people…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Long-awaited celebration with Archbishop at “undaunted” Innisfail parish after tragic loss
    November 28, 2023

    Over the weekend of November 26th, Archbishop Smith made a pastoral visit to the community of Our Lady of Peace…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Catholic Survey on Medical Assistance in Dying
    November 16, 2023

    The Archdiocese of Edmonton invites you to participate in a survey on Medical Assistance in Dying. We are hoping to…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Prepare your hearts and marriages through the hope of Advent
    November 15, 2023

    “The season of Advent, restores this horizon of hope, a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    St. Gregory the Great parish in Holden to close
    October 31, 2023

    With great sadness, the Archdiocese of Edmonton accepts the decision of the St. Gregory the Great community to close the…

    Continue Reading

Pastoral & Administration Offices
8421 101 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6A 0L1
Phone: 780-469-1010
Toll-free: 1-844-469-1010
Privacy Information
Terms of Use
2023 Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton