Groups in Des Moines Area Help Those Impacted by Addiction

by Diocese of Des Moines | November 3, 2026

By Ann Pierson

Note: The full names of the sources quoted in this article have been withheld to respect anonymity.  

The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program has spiritual undertones. But Catholics in Recovery attribute that spiritual power to Christ.

Taylor started the Catholics in Recovery group at St. Francis of Assisi parish in West Des Moines in 2024.

After getting sober in 2022, Taylor was attending AA meetings but said he was missing the tie to Catholicism. He looked up “Catholic in Recovery” online and learned about the group author and founder Scott Weeman set up, which was a recovery community based on the twelve steps with Catholicism at its heart.

“AA names a higher power, but [we] name the higher power Jesus,” Taylor said.

Asking permission from pastor Fr. Joseph Pins, Taylor gave pulpit talks to share his story and encourage others to join. From there, meetings began each Monday evening at 7:30p.m.

Each meeting takes the upcoming Sunday’s readings and the group reflects on those readings in light of recovery. The meetings last about 45 minutes, and everything is completely confidential. The meetings celebrate both the milestones of sobriety and the milestones of the sacraments.

“Catholics in Recovery has been a good launch point to begin [recovery] in a Catholic space,” Taylor said. “It’s completely changed people’s lives and has given them a vehicle to get them started. There are more people in the same position [as someone who might attend].”

Taylor said he hopes to start another group in the Des Moines area in the future. He encourages others to bring Catholics in Recovery meetings to their own parish as a way to give back and keep themselves accountable on their sobriety journey. If they are hesitant, Taylor said he encourages them to take the leap of faith.

“Being of service is the best way to keep yourself sober…anything that helps you be serviceable keeps you sober and helps others,” Taylor said. “[Eventually] you just gotta say yes.”

Taylor said that if anyone is considering going to a Catholics in Recovery or AA meeting, they should take the first step.

“If you are thinking about it, then you are already in the right mind space to start,” he said. “You already know you want to change your life. Just take the first step.”

Al-Anon

Families of those impacted by alcoholism have a space to connect and heal at Al-Anon, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Al-Anon was cofounded by Lois Wilson, wife of AA cofounder Bill Wilson, and Ann Bingham. The group is meant for the family members of those suffering from alcoholism. They also follow the 12 Steps, with the final step calling members to help others.

Long time member of Al-Anon in the Des Moines area, who preferred to be named as LR to preserve anonymity, said that though not explicitly religious, the program does call its members to look to a “higher power.”

“It’s a place where other people who have been affected by someone else’s drinking come and are able to share and somehow by sharing with each other,” LR said. “[You] find clarity, freedom, some laughs, and can deal with loved ones without being cruel.”

LR originally went to Al-Anon because her husband was an alcoholic. His drinking strained their marriage, their children, and their mental health. Her faith was depleted as the tensions brought about by the addiction hurt every aspect of her life. Although initially hesitant to go, LR shared how Al-Anon helped her “grow” and realize how alcohol caused hurt for everyone involved.

Since attending her first meetings, her behavior changed to kindness towards the one impacted by alcoholism and she’s remained involved by volunteering in a variety of roles and attending meetings.

Going to Al-Anon helped her recognize the impacts of alcoholism as a disease and how she could better support those affected.

“What happens when coming to Al-Anon is we can identify with the pain, lack of trust, all those things that happen [with alcoholism], so we can let go,” she said.

The Al-Anon group for Spanish speakers meets Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Hope + Elim Church in Des Moines. The space is confidential, and parents, spouses, children, and other relatives who have been impacted by alcoholism are invited to attend. LR said she encouraged those affected by alcoholism to go and find freedom.

“I have freedom every morning to know that I have a higher power that loves me,” LR said. “[Al-Anon] leads you to some form of religion or higher power. It brought me back to the church of my youth.”

Other meeting times can be found at al-anon.org/meetings and al-anondesmoines.org for Des Moines’ district, District 7.

The power of anonymity

Both Catholics in Recovery and Al-Anon enforce strict confidentiality so members can share in a safe space and find freedom.

After attending one meeting, it is easy to see why anonymity is so important, Taylor said. Having anonymity allows trust to grow between the members to confide their stories and celebrate the joys in their recovery.

Both groups require confidentiality between all members, like the sacrament of Reconciliation. Unlike the sacrament, however, those suffering from alcoholism share their experiences, not necessarily their sins.

“The sacraments are very precious to [Catholics in Recovery]. The difference [between Reconciliation] isn’t that one is competing with the other,” Taylor said. “Opening up to another human being besides the priest [in Reconciliation] creates a relational bond in sharing your own experience.”

Members in Al-Anon talk about themselves, and the freedom to discuss the impacts of alcohol, which would not be possible without anonymity. Even without the explicit Christian connection, the ability to share their stories opens the possibility for deeper devotion to the sacraments.

This possibility has made all the difference to LR.

“My faith has been improved and I’m able to hear,” LR said. “When I hear the Gospel, I’m able to relate to everything and listen to the readings. Because I went to Al-Anon I was able to start paying attention to my business and see God’s great love.”