“All we have is our own experience to help someone out,” said Jean Barrineau, Director of Catholic Charities Boston’s Recovering Connections program. “That’s why we’re here—to share our stories and help each other with the knowledge we’ve gained. That’s what God would want me to do.”
Offering case management, community resources, and support groups to family members of those struggling with substance use disorder, Recovering Connections provides clients with a supportive space where they can learn about recovery resources, share their experiences with others, and begin to heal.
This year’s Hope & Healing retreat was once again held at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, a peaceful, seaside monastery that Jean said many participants find instantly comforting. Amid speaking panels, shared meals, and group mentoring, the women are granted moments for quiet reflection and prayer.
The theme of this year’s retreat was mental health. As a longtime member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Jean led discussions on the close connection between both substance use and mental health, emphasizing how they affect not only the individual but the entire web of the impacted family.
The guest speaker was Yvonne Duncanson, a retired psychiatric nurse from a VA hospital who has supported both her husband and son through substance use disorder. Speaking from both personal and professional experience, Yvonne, now 90, shared her story with grace and wisdom.
“When my family was going through it, I always thought I had to handle everything alone,” Yvonne said. “Eventually, I learned to take off my cape and ask for help. People think they’re the only ones out there, but what we need is strength, community, and hope.”
Beyond the topics of addiction and mental illness, Yvonne said she tried to make space for joy and laughter, reminding the women of their own worth and the importance of self-care.
“I focused on helping them rediscover joy and reminding them that they’re important enough to care for themselves,” she said. “They need support too.”
As the retreat came to a close, Yvonne said it was moving to witness a visible shift in the women, how they found comfort, strength, and renewed faith in one another and in themselves.
That reminder—that no one is alone—is at the very heart of Recovering Connections. It’s the message Jean brings to every retreat, and to every person she meets.
“Addiction affects people from all walks of life,” she said. “But it touches everyone differently.”
On October 18, Jean will lead a one-day retreat for men who have lost loved ones to addiction. On the weekend of December 5, she will lead the Growth Through Grief retreat, specifically for mothers grieving the loss of a child to substance use.
Between these gatherings, Jean remains committed to nurturing a sense of community and solidarity. Since the spring, she has hosted monthly Zoom support calls for past retreat participants, each centered around themes such as mental health, faith, community, and self-care.
“It never ceases to amaze me how many people are suffering in silence,” Jean said. “But there’s always someone out there willing to help. We need to be there for one another.”
To learn more about Catholic Charities Boston’s Recovering Connections program, click here. To find out how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need, visit our Ways to Give page.
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