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The strength of the Pioneer movement has always been its way of faith and prayer. This is what has marked us out from other temperance organizations and has given our association its identity. The essence of this way of faith will be found in the story of our origins. The first Central Director, Father James Cullen (1841-1921) wanted to address the widespread abuse of alcohol in the Ireland of his day, together with all the personal and social consequences that always flow from such abuse. He was convinced that only a radically religious solution would go to the heart of the problem. Like the evil spirit in the gospel tradition, it would be driven out only by prayer and fasting (Mk 9:29). So Father Cullen with his four like-minded associates, Mrs M.L. Bury, Mrs A Egan, Miss L. Power and Mrs A.M. Sullivan, who were already non-drinkers, formalized their abstinence in a union of sacrifice and prayer for the sake of others. They took on themselves a threefold commitment:

                                   (1) To pray for the conversion of excessive drinkers;

The above story of the origins of the P.T.A.A. highlights, in a brief manner, first of all, how our abstinence is for others as well as for ourselves - indeed often more for others than for ourselves. For us total abstinence is not anti-drink as such. It arises out of a deep compassion for those caught on the treadmill of intemperance, and the way we help is primarily by the spiritual power of prayer and sacrifice. Few of us have gone untouched or unscathed by the problems of excessive drinking, either personally or among relatives and friends. If there is one common feature to this experience, both yesterday and today, it is the feeling of helplessness among relatives and friends which has brought countless people to turn to a spiritual movement in order to help those who cannot help themselves.

Though the primary inspiration of the Pioneer Movement is founded on the personal and spiritual level just described, Pioneers feel that they are focussing on an issue which lies at the centre of a network of evil and unhappiness, which spreads its tentacles through society as a whole.
When you have listed things like violence in the home and in the streets, substance abuse, sexual abuse, the carnage on our roads, absenteeism with its impact on the economy and unemployment, you have touched on some of the most glaring ills of modern life, all of which are related in varying degrees to the abuse of alcoholic drink. Consequently, Pioneers feel that by their concern for temperance they are close to the heart of the problems of modern life, and by their prayer and sacrifice they are making an important contribution to the health and happiness of their fellow human beings.

Nevertheless, the message of the Pioneer to the world at large is not the abolition of drink but moderation in its use. Total abstinence is the personal choice of the Pioneers for themselves, for the reasons described above. But, for society generally, the message is temperance in the sense of moderation and seld-control in all things. Total abstinence is a means for some only, Temperance is the goal for all.

The dominant inspiration of this way of life in our Movement has always been devotion to the Heart of Christ. We realize that in some circumstances today this devotion is not always as readily understood as it once was. At the same time, from the responses to the recent questionaire and from our discussions in the course of our review of the Pioneer way, it is clear that this devotion remains important for most Pioneers, particularly in Ireland. Devotion to the Heart of Christ, as understood among Pioneers, is basically simply a way of speaking of devotion to the person of Christ and to his individual love for each of us. Where people have difficulties about the devotion, it should not stand in the way of their becoming members of the Association, once they are prepared to undertake the three basic obligations of membership, inspired by love for Christ.

..... Taken from "TOWARD A SECOND CENTURY"

 
Members of the Pioneer Association have three rules which must be observed daily. These three rules are stated in the Pioneer prayer, The Heroic Offering.


Founded in St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner St, Dublin on 28th December 1898 by Fr James A Cullen.

It was co-founded by four women: Mrs A Egan, Mrs ML Bury, Mrs A M Sullivan and Miss L Power. This was because PTAA membership in the early days was confined to women. However in 1899 men were first admitted to the Association.

During the last 100 years, we have had some well known members:-                                              



The Pioneer Movement was founded by Fr. James Cullen in 1899 to address the problem of Alcohol abuse which was rampant in Irish society at that time and to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fr. Cullen recognised that it was only through devotion to the Sacred Heart that the scourge of alcohol could be destroyed.

The Pioneer Association has, in 100 years, spread throughout the world and its membership is continually growing in countries like Africa and Latin America.

The Pioneer makes a committment to abstain from alcohol for life. This represents a sacrifice by which great graces are obtained from God for those people suffering from the abuse of alcohol. This committment and the daily Pioneer prayer is a powerful means of helping someone suffering from addiction.

An addiction is where you have no control over your life as feeding the addiction consumes your mind, body, soul and spirit. In these circumstances, a person is trapped in their addiction with little prospect of changing their life around.

The Pioneer firmly believes that by reciting the Pioneer Prayer twice daily (Pioneer Prayer) God, and only God, can help that person to overcome their addiction.
Consider any bad habits which you may have and try changing them. Is it not a difficult task?. An addiction is much more serious and can have detrimental consequences for your life.

Considering the suffering, pain and heartache inflicted on the individual,family, friends, society - surely the Pioneer 'Heroic Offering' is a wonderful way of supporting them in their needs. The realities of an addiction results in a daily struggle but the power of prayer can help them along.



A Pioneer is a committed catholic, remaining faithful to the teachings of the church and dedicated to living out the message of the Gospel in their daily lives. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus helps us to develop our relationship with and understanding of God, to become better Christians and to enable us to reach our final destination: Heaven.

Based on the teachings of Jesus, the Association focuses on prayer and sacrifice, along with practical acts of charity, as a most effective means of helping addicts escape from their slavery to alcohol and drugs. There are many ways of dealing with these problems but our conviction and belief lies in the Power and Grace of God, assisted by our efforts, to help people with addictions to transform their lives.