16 Oct my return to freedom by marco pardo
In 1998, Marlene asked me if I would be willing to start a new group for the clients of CRI-Help. Since I was finishing up my MA in Pastoral Theology, I started what became the Spiritual Exploration group. Two years later, she asked me if I would be willing to take over the Grief Group. In 2004, I pitched Jack on the idea of bringing me on as the full-time Spirituality/Grief counselor for both Pfleger Center and Socorro. He said yes, thank God.
Over the years, I did a fair amount of groups and individual sessions in that capacity. I was also asked to facilitate additional groups, such as Creating Change and Relapse Prevention for the Mature Clients. One of the most unique groups that became part of my daily schedule was our early morning 11th Step group. I wanted the clients to experience what it is like to start the day in conscious contact with their Higher Power, and to surrender self-will in favor of the Divine will before having breakfast. We met at 6:45 am.
In support of that effort I started to write the daily meditations that were read during those morning sessions. In time, those same meditations were sent by email to a list of subscribers that grew to over 600 names.
Although I never set out to do this work specifically, I believe it is the most powerful and meaningful work I have ever done. I believe that God blessed me to do this work and that God brought me to the place where I could be of maximum service. I have always found it very easy to love our clients and I have always felt honored to work side-by-side with such incredibly good and caring co-workers. I pray that God continues to bless CRI-Help as much as CRI-Help has blessed me.