Inside the Core: International Collaboration

Inside the Core this week, we focus on addiction, those lost to it and those in recovery, particularly through I-Thirst, a ministry to help addicts using a spiritual model. To commemorate those lost to addiction, English instructor and long-standing Core faculty member, professor Melinda Papaccio, has once again brought to Seton Hall the Black Poster Project Silent Memorial.

Each poster, the color of which simply is black in background, memorializes an individual lost to addiction. The display was exhibited on Tuesday, November 18, in the afternoon through Papaccio’s hard work with the help of her students, in the University Center, with father Nick Sertich leading a prayer at the event. The many posters of those lost to addiction and some to suicide are truly heart-rending. However, there is also reason for hope, as Papaccio has also brought the I-Thirst ministry to Seton Hall, where she has her students working with addicts in recovery in this program.

I-Thirst has also expanded beyond its origins here at Seton Hall to Nigeria through Papaccio's connection with sister Mary John Bosco Ebere Amakwe, fellow Core faculty member and fellow member of our Seton Hall Sant’ Egidio prayer community. A bit of history will explain what led to this global expansion of an important Seton Hall initiative.

Professor Papaccio has been active in the ministry of I-Thirst, started by Seton Hall ICSST graduate alumna, Keaton Douglas, for many years. Papaccio enlists her students into the meaningful work with addicts that is the heart of this important ministry. Spiritual accompaniment is crucial to I-Thirst, and she has been certified to fulfill this role. Participating in the interactions with addicts in I-Thirst meetings, students get to see first-hand how important it is to addicts to feel they are not alone. Sometimes just having that one person reach out to an addicted individual can make all the difference. And, as I-Thirst testifies, spiritual connection with God (one’s higher power) is extremely important in conquering any addictive behavior. I-Thirst training came back to Seton Hall, where it had started in ICSST’s graduate program with Keaton, to the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Development through Papaccio’s efforts. In fact, the Office of Continuing Education offers I-Thirst training with a certificate available to those going through the training.

Sister Bosco learned about I-Thirst from Papaccio, and she made a connection about the ministry with her religious community in Nigeria (the seminary with which her order is affiliated, the Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth), where support for addicts in recovery is much needed, as it is here.

Reverend Father Athanasius Ironkwe of this community in Nigeria tells the story further:

Short History of the Rehab Center (Youth Home) in Nigeria
The Assumption Foundation for Integral Human Development (AFIHDEV) Youth Home Ozubulu, Nigeria, started officially on October 1, 2024. The Home was meant to rehabilitate troubled youths especially those with substance abuse cases. The Center helps many young people in Nigeria who, due to frustration caused by economic hardship, unemployment and bad associations, have become victims of substance abuse.

Before the inception of the Center, the director, Reverend father Athanasius Ironkwe, a member of the Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth (HFFBY) order, and the founder, Reverend father Vitalis Anaehobi, through the help of professor sister Bosco Amakwe, a Core faculty member who spoke to professor Melinda Papaccio, another Core faculty member, received spiritual companionship training from Seton Hall University’s Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. The online training was conducted by Keaton Douglas, executive director of I-Thirst, and professor Melinda Papaccio.
So far, the Home has successfully rehabilitated eight young people who are doing well in different fields of their choice. Presently, the facility has 26 youths from different religious backgrounds following the recovery and rehabilitation program.

It must be said that Keaton Douglas and professor Melinda Papaccio introduced the I-Thirst African Initiative to help train more personnel who will provide the much-needed spiritual and mental companionship to many troubled young people who are victims of substance abuse. The initiative currently has five slots for AFIHDEV Youth Home in Nigeria for the training of more personnel. The Center hopes to admit more victims with the help of people of good will from the United States. Thank you all.

Reverend father doctor Athanasius Ironkwe, HFFBY
Director, AFIHDEV Youth Home, Nigeria.

The program in Nigeria is a wonderful outgrowth of a Seton Hall initiative linked to three Seton Hall women: Keaton Douglas, alumna, who started I-Thirst; Melinda Papaccio, faculty member, who brought it to Seton Hall and to the Core; and sister Bosco Amakwe, faculty member, who brought it to Nigeria.

In the Core, we are grateful that some of the beautiful bonds existing among our faculty have led to the healing and recovery of at least eight individuals, with 26 more benefiting from the program right now. As we are grateful for the Black Poster Project memorializing those lost to addiction, we are also deeply grateful for all those helped through I-Thirst to be free from addiction.

Categories: Faith and Service, Nation and World