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Re-building walls & re-building lives
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When it was learnt that the Cenacolo Community, a Catholic community that helps rehabilitate drug addicts, was going to open a house in picturesque rural Dodding Green, the locals were incensed, as they didn’t want their peace and quiet disturbed by what they imagined would be delinquents rampaging round the area. Two and an half years on, not only has the community become well established, but some of their fiercest critics have become their greatest supporters. This is symbolised by a striking abstract wall hanging in the front room of the community house, made especially for them by well known local artist. This wool tapestry of black interspersed with swirls and dashes of yellow and green is a graphic reminder of the work that Cenacolo do in helping to bring people from the darkness of addiction into the light of God and healing. The artist and her husband were won over, says Anthony, one of the young men, when her husband came by one day and saw that they were trying to rebuild the dry stone walls of the property which had tumbled down. He not only gave the lads advice on what to do, but became a good friend and drops by regularly with wood for their log fire. The community generally encourages visitors, and the front door is always open and someone is specially delegated to take care of any strangers who call. And the visitor can’t help but be impressed by the well mannered hard working young men they meet with their fresh complexions and shining eyes and enthusiasm. It is hard to believe that any of them were ever drug addicts and even more amazing when one learns that all this has been achieved without professional help or substitute drugs, but simply through prayer, especially Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, fellowship and hard work. No locks or bars Local lads are often sent abroad, usually to Italy to the mother house in Saluzzo, rather than staying in their home country, at least initially. Anthony explains, “There are no locks or bars so if you are having a bad day it would be all too easy to leave.” The young men all learn Italian, the common language of the community, which is now international and has houses all over the world. At the Kendal house at the moment there are ten young men from all over Europe including Austria, Italy, Germany, Scotland and Ireland. As in all the Cenacolo houses, the community survives on a mixture of Divine Providence and hard work. They do all the cooking and cleaning themselves as well as growing as much of their own food as possible. Anthony proudly shows me round the premises. Under the polythene greenhouse are the remnants of the aubergines and tomatoes that they have been growing during the year, and in the vegetable patch cabbages, leeks and onions. “We don’t waste anything,” he says, showing me the huge compost pit at the bottom of the garden and the pig sty with two pigs which also came through Divine Provvidence. “We don’t buy anything,” he continues, “and rely on providence. We never ask for anything but people in their goodness provide. This means you appreciate it much more when you get things and experience it as a gift from God rather than something you have earned or that is your right. Mark, one of the new guys for example, wanted a warm hat, because it is very cold here but there weren’t any. But that morning a lady visitor came with two hats and gave them to him. It was amazing.” The work of renovating the property is ongoing. At the moment they are hoping to turn the barn into workshops and more accommodation. This has stopped at the moment, however, while they wait for more funds to pay for materials and skilled help. Pride of place is the chapel. In this case Dodding Green has a special Catholic history, as it was a recusant house, with a priest’s hole that still exists today. School of life Some might see Cenacolo as simply a drug rehabilitation project, but for Sr Elvira, the Italian nun who founded it, it is something much more. Anthony explains, “It is a school of life. We are learning to live in the truth and know ourselves and know God. As addicts your life is full of deception, saying and promising whatever will get you the drugs you need. Here we are relearning how to live again, not to escape the pain and difficulty of life but to face reality and live on sound foundations.” Community life is intense and challenging, and everyone is expected to play their part and called to account if they are not by the other members of the community. The regime is a strict one, full of prayer, hard work and community activities. The day begins at 6am with prayer and the rosary. As well as their household duties, each person also has to spend a certain amount of time in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament which helps contribute to the 24 hour a day commitment that the worldwide community has to keep watch in front of the Blessed Sacrament. This can sometimes mean getting up at 3am, depending on the schedule. Anthony comments, “Every house has the Blessed Sacrament. It is here that we change as people. Detox didn’t work for any of us. But here we have each other and Jesus and, through sharing about our lives and supporting each other and living the truth, with God’s grace, our lives change.” Gospel reflections Every morning the community look at readings from the New Testament and in the evening they reflect on the Gospel reading of the Day. They take it in turns to take a phrase and share their thoughts on what this means to them or how they have put it into practice in their lives. Anthony comments, “We are speaking to guys who know us, so we have to speak the truth to one another and we can’t pretend to be other than what we are.” The process, not surprisingly, is evangelistic as well as rehabilitative. Those who come don’t have to be Christians but they have to participate in the same schedule of prayer and sharing and this process often brings conversion. Christian, one young man from East Germany, for example, was an atheist when he arrived. But after two years of living the life and finding through his own experience that God was real, he decided to become a Catholic and was recently baptised. The transformations that happen are often very moving and Anthony tells the story of Gianpaolo from Glasgow, whose life has totally changed in the last six months. “He gave his witness in the chapel in front of his mum and dad and 100 people who had come from Scotland for a visit. They are hoping to open a house there too.” As part of their rehabilitation the boys regularly give witness to what God is doing in their lives and last summer, Anthony and Martin, another young man, went to Youth2000 in Walsingham to witness to their faith and what God had done for them. The main UK Cenacolo support group is in Kendal and two lads from the community attend each meeting. other major meetings are held in London, Liverpool and Glasgow. Additionally there are many smaller prayer groups in Birmingham, Bradford, North London, Devon, Leicester, Hull and Preston. Here addicts and families can come for prayer and get to know the community. Then if an addict feels that this kind of community would help them, they go to one of the main meetings and finally if they show the right commitment they enter the Cenacolo in Kendal for a 3 day trial period. They then may be transferred anywhere in the world. For further details of the Cenacolo community in Kendal contact 01995 604808
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