GARRISON, NEW YORK — “Hey,” said the affable 33-year-old man with a thick Brooklyn accent. “My name is Peter. I’m an alcoholic.”
It’s a common greeting to hear from anyone who has gone through the 12-step recovery process of Alcoholics Anonymous. For Peter, that journey to sobriety began at St. Christopher’s Inn in Garrison.
There, one of the many lessons he learned is that introducing yourself as an alcoholic is a “good reminder.” Although sober and in recovery, Peter acknowledges that he is still an alcoholic.
“By me saying that — that’s me practicing the first step,” he explained. “When we announce ourselves, we say we’re alcoholics, and our lives have become unmanageable.”
Founded in 1909, St. Christopher’s Inn has offered AA treatment programs since 1960.
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It is managed by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, who, in the 1970s, expanded the ministry to include drug abuse treatment services.
Today, the priests are helped by dozens of staff members, including substance abuse counselors. The on-site dormitory can accommodate 142 men.
The residents have access to medical evaluations, plus individual and group counseling sessions, all geared toward helping them pursue the 12-step program.
But here, the priests conduct the program with attention to the callings of Catholic teachings for the care and dignity of all people. In this case, they are men, like Peter, overcoming addiction.
“Faith is at the heart of what we do at St. Christopher’s Inn,” said Father Dennis Polanco, the ministry’s spiritual director and president. “We believe God is present in the work of healing, and we intentionally create space for prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth. We welcome men of all faiths and creeds.”
To reaffirm their commitment to the ministry, they recently held a small ribbon-cutting ceremony to bless the newly renovated showers and sinks in the bathing areas.
The renovation included electric hand dryers to reduce reliance on paper towels and minimize waste, in line with Franciscan values regarding creation care.
This work follows other renovations to the dining hall and kitchen in 2025 to bolster Franciscan hospitality. The kitchen received fresh paint and new epoxy flooring, improving both functionality and cleanliness in a space central to daily life at the inn.
“These renovations are not just about buildings, but about fostering healing, community, and a renewed sense of home,” Father Polanco said. “By creating spaces that are welcoming, sustainable, and rooted in simplicity, we affirm a fundamental Franciscan belief — that each person deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and hope.”
Peter’s arrival in 2024 followed a tumultuous season of substance abuse in which his longtime struggles with alcohol were made worse by using drugs.
“Rock bottom is my birthstone,” he said. “I stayed away from crystal meth and heroin, but I tried everything else.”
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Things worsened, Peter said, when his 5-year-old son said he wanted to live at his dad’s house, but dad was homeless.
“I went through hell, and that’s why I needed to become religious,” Peter said.
His mother, who is from Russia, suggested he enter St. Christopher’s Inn. He later learned that she had discovered the ministry when she tried to reach someone in Russia but called the wrong number.
The person who answered the phone was a priest, Peter said.
“So, my mom, she’s like, ‘I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to call you,’ ” Peter recalled. “And he says to her, ‘There are no accidents. You called me for a reason. What’s going on? What’s happening?’
“So, she explains to him, ‘Well, my son is battling this disease of addiction.’ ”
It turned out that the priest knew about St. Christopher’s Inn and suggested it to Peter’s mother. She, in turn, referred her son to the ministry.
Peter arrived at St. Christopher’s Inn on July 30, 2024. He was not raised Catholic, but at the ministry, he eagerly attended Mass several times each week and sang in the choir.
Since learning to live a drug-free life from his St Christopher’s Inn experience, Peter has returned twice to share his story with others in the program.
“St. Christopher’s will change you without your permission,” Peter said. “Listen, it probably saved my life. It gave me a new way of life; it showed me the importance of meetings and group therapy. It showed me how to connect with other people.
“Now, I can help another fellow alcoholic.”