A BRIEF HISTORY OF DADAR A.A. GROUP

In city of Mumbai - in the early sixties better known then as Bombay, the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous was still in its infancy. Only a few suffering alcoholics who had received the A. A. message of Hope, having recovered from the disease of Alcoholism - sober and being away from alcohol, endeavoured zealously to pass on this message of Hope to others whom they knew were still suffering due to Alcoholism:-

One such individual, a hopeless, die hard drunk and a Parishioner of Dadar. Cruz D. received the A. A. message of Hope.

Over a period of time attending the A. A. meetings, which at that time were few and held periodically at Mahim and Bandra. Cruz D was able to stay away from Alcohol and knowing that to stay away from alcohol was not all but to stay stop and to attain Sobriety he had too pass on the good news of the A.A. recovery programme and hope to other suffering Alcoholics - specially so many he knew in an around Dadar Parish.

Hence the need was to start an A.A. Group in Dadar, but how and where? Co-incidently, timely help was forth coming as His Eminence the then Archbishop of Bombay Valerian Cardinal Gracious, who appreciated the good work started by members of A.A. requested the Catholic churches / schools and institution's in the city of Bombay to encourage the growth of the fellowship of A.A. and to allocate space / class rooms where-ever, if possible to conduct A.A. meetings. Cruz D. then approached the members of the Legion of Mary - a catholic lay association of the Salvation Church Dadar and with the assistance and help of its senior members - the late Mr. John Femandes, Mrs. Mildred Murzello (nee Athaide) along with their committed assistants and together with his mentor and sponsor Dr. (Prof.) Joe Sundaram, convinced the then Parish Priest Msgr. F. X. Vaz the need for space to conduct A.A. meetings in Dadar Parish. Msgr. Vaz willingly extended all help and support, allocated a class room in the old convent cum school building.

January 16, 1964, Cruz D. and other members of A.A. had the first A.A. cum Awareness meeting in the parish of O.L. of Salvation, Dadar. Forty four years have since past, Dadar A.A. group now conducts its daily meetings in the new Seva Kendra on the ground floor of the building premises allocated for Dadar A. A. group functioning.   This new premises too was inaugurated and blessed by His Eminence Simon Cardinal Pimenta. Cruz D. is no more, expired in the year 2003, as one of the co-founders did all he could for Dadar A.A. group, namely:- Passing The Message To The Alcoholic Who Still Suffers.

MEETINGS               TIMINGS

MONDAY        :        7.30 P.M.

TUESDAY       :        10.30 A.M.

WEDNESDAY   :        7.30 P.M.

THURSDAY     :        7.30 P.M.

FRIDAY                   :        10.45 A.M.

SATURDAY     :        7.30 P.M.

SUNDAY        :        11.00 A.M.

For assistance please Contact Mr. Paul S. Fernandes (Mob.No.: 9820454974)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics anonymous (C) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope wit each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

·         The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees foe A.A membership; we are self supporting through our own contributions.

·         A.A is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause.

·         Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Am I an alcoholic?

If you repeatedly drink more than u intend to or want to, or if you get into trouble, if you have memory lapse when you drink, you may be an alcoholic.

Only you can decide. No one in A.A. will tell you whether you are or not.

What can I do if I am worried about my drinking?

Seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous can help.

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

We are a fellowship of men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various kinds of troubles as a result of drinking. We attempt- most of us successfully –to create a satisfying way of life without alcohol. For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in A.A.

If I go to an A.A. meeting, does that commit me to anything?

No. A.A. does not keep membership files, or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.

What happens if I meet people I know in A.A.?

They will be there for the same reason you are there. They will not disclose you identity to outsiders. At A.A. you retain as much anonymity as you wish. This is one of the reasons we call ourselves Alcoholics Anonymous.

What happens at an A.A. meeting?

An A.A. meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find  alcoholics talking what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today.

How can this help me with my drinking problem?

We in A.A. know what it is to be addicted to alcohol, and to be unable to kee promises made to others and ourselves that we will stop drinking. We are not professional therapists. Our only qualification for helping others to recover from alcoholism is that we have stopped drinking ourselves, but problem drinkers coming to us know that recovery is possible because they have seen people who have done it.

Why do A.A.’s keep on going for meetings after they are cured?

We in A.A. believe that there is no such thing as CURE for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on, maintaining our physical and mental and spiritual health. This we can achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics.

How do I join A.A.?

You are an A.A. member if and when you say so. They only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking, and many of us were not very wholehearted about that when we first approached A.A.

How much does A.A. membership cost?

There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership an A.A. group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee. Etc.., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.