Alcoholics Anonymous

   Alcoholism is an illness, a progressive illness, which can never be cured but which, like some other diseases, can be arrested.  Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous feel that the illness represents the combination of a physical sensitivity to alcohol and a mental obsession with drinking, which, regardless of consequences, cannot be broken by willpower alone.

Once alcoholism has set in, there is nothing morally wrong about being ill.  At this stage, free will is not involved, because the sufferer has lost the power of choice over alcohol.  The most important things are to face the facts of one's illness and to take advantage of the help that is available.  There must also be a desire to get well.  Experience shows that the A.A. program will work for all alcoholics who are sincere in their efforts to stop drinking; it usually will not work for those not absolutely certain that they want to stop.

If you feel that you have, or might have, the illness of alcoholism, you are warmly invited to attend our A.A. meetings which are held at Our Lady of the Chesapeake every Thursday at 7:30 pm.