The Catholic in Recovery Podcast

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley reflect on the parallels between physical rehabilitation and addiction recovery, using Father Sean's experience with physical therapy after a foot injury to explore the importance of humility, honesty, and consistent daily practices. They discuss how objective assessments, accountability, and seemingly smal...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the complexities of managing addiction recovery alongside mental illnesses, specifically addressing a listener's experience with sex addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They emphasize that a strong recovery team should include a 12-step sponsor, a therapist, and a spiritual director,...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley addresses listener questions, first focusing on a seminarian's struggle to balance a busy formation schedule with the time commitment of 12-step recovery, followed by a definition of the term "dry drunk" as being abstinent but not yet fully converted in heart. They affirm the importance of prioritizing reco...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley return from a hiatus to discuss their recent activities, including Father Sean's travels and Scott's work with Catholic in Recovery amidst a challenging ice storm. The primary topic is Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) or Adult Children of Dysfunctional Family Systems, which they explore by discussing its...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley catch up after a brief hiatus, sharing updates on their recent travels, Father Sean's new role related to seminarian formation, and Scott's speaking engagements, including his talk on the Twelve Steps and Catholic spirituality. They discuss the challenges of unhealthy attachments, such as to sports, a...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the interconnected themes of gratitude and service, especially as they relate to the recovery journey around Thanksgiving. They delve into how service acts as the greatest expression of gratitude, sharing personal reflections on the dangers of idle time as a trigger and the importance of allow...

In this podcast episode, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss Father Sean's recovery journey. Father Sean shares his struggles with addiction, his path to sobriety, and the role of faith and community in his healing process. The conversation also touches on the distinctions between sobriety in a 12-step program and the Catholic understanding of chastity, offering insights into personal g...

In this Catholic in Recovery podcast episode, Scott Weeman shares his personal recovery journey with Father Sean Kilcawley, detailing his struggles with addiction, the impact on his relationships, and his eventual path to sobriety through AA and the Catholic Church. He recounts significant moments, including a pivotal conversation with his ex-girlfriend and the guidance of his sponsor, Michael. Th...

In this last episode of the Catholic in Recovery Podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss their recent experiences, including Father Sean's new role at the seminary and Scott's trip to Rome, where he met Pope Leo. Father Sean offers guidance on addiction recovery for priests and the Church's teachings on divorce in challenging circumstances. The conversation highlights the importanc...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery Podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the vital role of boundaries in fostering healthy relationships within recovery, emphasizing that these boundaries are crucial for protecting sobriety, mental health, and spiritual growth, especially for those who come from backgrounds where boundaries were often absent. They highlight that setting...

In this Catholic in Recovery Podcast episode, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss prayer as a vital and transformative part of recovery, exploring how the Twelve Steps and the Catholic faith emphasize prayer for spiritual growth and healing. They highlight the importance of radical honesty in prayer, treating it as a relationship with God where one can express all feelings and struggles...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery Podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss how to stay spiritually grounded, emotionally stable, and sober through seasons of change and recovery. They share personal experiences with significant life transitions, such as moving and new jobs, and explore how these changes can impact one's recovery journey. The episode also touches on the imp...

Episode 18 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast explores the unique challenges and graces experienced by Catholic priests, clergy, and lay leaders on their recovery journey. Hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley emphasize the importance of vulnerability and seeking help, dispelling the myth that leaders must always appear perfect. They highlight how embracing recovery can actually magnify mi...

In Episode 17 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss common misunderstandings Catholics have about 12-step recovery, emphasizing how faith and recovery can work together. They address various misconceptions, such as the idea that 12-step recovery is not "Catholic enough" due to terms like "higher power" or that being a "good Catholic" means one shouldn'...

In Episode 16 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss repentance and forgiveness in the context of Catholic spirituality and 12-step recovery. They explore the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation, the importance of genuine remorse and taking responsibility, and offer practical tools and advice for dealing with unforgiveness and resen...

In Episode 15 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the often hidden struggle of lust and pornography addiction within the Church and society. They cover how the Twelve Steps, Catholic spirituality, and the sacraments can offer healing and freedom. They also explore the definition of lust addiction beyond pornography, the criteria for identifying...

In Episode 14 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the Theology of the Body and its relevance to addiction recovery. They explore how Saint John Paul II's teachings can offer a framework for understanding human dignity, the meaning of our bodies, and God's restorative power for what is broken.

In this podcast episode, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the integration of the Catholic faith with 12-Step recovery programs. They explore the appropriateness of sharing one's faith in secular meetings, balancing spiritual convictions with group unity, and the importance of humility and discernment. They also delve into the concept of surrender to God, the importance of faith in re...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the concept of "living one day at a time" in the context of faith and recovery. They explore the tension between this approach and having long-term goals, particularly in sobriety. They discuss practical tools, biblical foundations, and personal testimonies related to living in the present moment an...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss addiction recovery through the metaphor of "bruised fruit" from Saint Francis de Sales. They explore the concept of innocence versus being wounded by addiction and how genuine devotion, not just religious activities, is essential for healing. They also share personal reflections on their own struggl...

In Episode 10 of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley discuss the importance of lifestyle changes for sustained recovery from addiction. They explore how habits, obstacles, and faith play crucial roles and share about the challenges of maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, covering topics such as identifying triggers, creating space for God, buil...

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, hosts Scott Weeman and Father Sean Kilcawley explore the meaning of anonymity, its origins, and its practical applications in recovery. They also touch on balancing recovery with faith, sharing personal recovery stories, and navigating the challenges of maintaining anonymity while seeking help.

In this episode of the Catholic in Recovery podcast, Fr. Sean Kilcawley and Scott Weeman delve into the impact of addiction on families, sharing personal insights and discussing the various ways addiction can manifest within a family. They also explore the different roles family members often assume, such as the "hero" or "scapegoat," and how these roles can perpetuate dysfunction.

In this podcast episode, Scott Weeman and Fr. Sean Kilcawley cover the topic of grief and addiction. They discuss how grief can lead to addiction, the stages of grief, dealing with grief while in recovery, and navigating loss and grief in the midst of recovery.

In the sixth episode of the Catholic in Recovery Podcast, Scott Weeman and Fr. Sean Kilcawley discuss the common experiences and phases of addiction. They go over the different ways addiction can start, the difficulty of identifying and admitting an addiction, and the importance of honesty and trust in recovery. They also answer a listener's question about how to trust God and other people in reco...